Guillaume Dufay: Sacred music from Bologna Q15

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This recording focuses on sacred works by Dufay from a 15th-century manuscript preserved at Bologna and known as Q15. This is a complex source, compiled over a number of years in northern Italy,... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Catalogue No: SIGCD023
Label: Signum
Length: 60 minutes

Dufay: Vasilissa, Ergo Gaude

Work length2:45

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: Kyrie Fons bonitatis

Work length6:58

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: O beate Sebastiane

Work length2:59

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: Gloria (Bol. Q15 no. 107)

Work length4:47

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: O gemma, lux et speculum

Work length4:37

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: Credo (Bol. Q15 no. 108)

Work length6:30

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: Supremum est mortalibus bonum

Work length6:26

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: Sanctus & Benedictus (Bol. Q15 no. 104)

Work length6:21

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: Inclita stella maris

Work length4:07

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: Agnus Dei (Bol. Q15 no. 105)

Work length3:26

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: Gloria 'Spiritus et alme'

Work length6:03

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

Dufay: O sancte Sebastiane

Work length5:01

$1.00

$1.40

The Clerks' Group
Edward Wickham

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The manuscript Bologna, Civico Museo Bibliografico Musicale, MS Q15 is one of the great anthologies of 15th century music, without which our understanding of early Renaissance music would be hopelessly impaired. It is known as Q15 to its friends; and it has many friends, for contained within it are examples of almost every conceivable musical genre of the period — with a special emphasis on sacred polyphony — and works by a vast array of composers. And even if we choose to make a selection of works by a single composer, as we have done here, the variety of forms and styles on offer is bewildering.

Reviews

2010

This recording focuses on sacred works by Dufay from a 15th-century manuscript preserved at Bologna and known as Q15. This is a complex source, compiled over a number of years in northern Italy, and containing a wide range of polyphonic repertory, including diverse works by the great Dufay.
This CD isn't in any sense a reconstruction, but a carefully selected anthology of not necessarily very familiar pieces by Dufay. Indeed, this is a really superb recording: vocal lines are well shaped and the sonorities achieved through accuracy of ensemble and pacing result in performances that are decidedly sensual, even dance-like, at times.
Just try the four-voice Gloria or the isorhythmic motet Supremum est mortalibus bonum, in praise of peace. This extraordinary work composed to commemorate the signing of a peace treaty between the Pope and Holy Roman Emperorelect in 1433 combines just about every musical technique and idiom available to a composer in the first half of the 15th century, complete with, in this interpretation by The Clerks' Group, improvised vocal flourishes on the block chords declaiming the names of the signatories.
Vocal agility – notably in the faster-moving upper parts of Inclita stella maris – and a text- centred intensity of projection are hallmarks of this excellent group: only in the three-voice setting of O beate Sebastiane, a plea for delivery from the plague, does the approach seem too cool.
Elsewhere, even in familiar texts such as the Sanctus, there's a real sense of engagement. If you've yet to discover the delights of Dufay, this is an excellent place to start; Dufay fans can't fail to be delighted.

Guillaume Dufay: Sacred music from Bologna Q15

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