COMPOSERS: Anonymous,Baude Cordier,F. Andrieu,Goscalch,Guido
LABELS: Harmonia Mundi Suite
WORKS: Ballades; Rondeaux
PERFORMER: Ensemble Organum/Marcel Pérès
CATALOGUE NO: HMT 7901252 1987
The composers of the zany music found in the Codex Chantilly are sometimes referred to as ‘the late 14th-century avant-garde’ – but, as this impressive recording from 1987 shows, their works are far from being shabby little shockers. Andrieu’s moving lament on the death of Machaut, Armes, amours, is beautifully restrained here, and the works by Guido glow with euphony. Only the anonymous Sans joie, played on instruments, sounds a bit plinky-plonky and meaningless. But this disc is clearly a close rival to David Munrow’s presentation of this repertory in The Art of Courtly Love (Virgin Veritas). Anthony Pryer