Solage: Corps feminine

An enigmatic manuscript as regards its origin and purpose, and containing musical and poetic enigmas within it—the perfect illustration of Ars Subtilior, the Chantilly Codex, MS. 564 from the library of the Château de Chantilly, is one of the richest collections of French music from the late Middle Ages. Perfectly preserved, it bears witness to the imagination and virtuosity of the musicians who were exploring the limits of musical notation, which had only recently been established. Throughout their works, the composers skilfully scattered riddles, acrostics, plays on words, quotations and mythological, political or amorous allusions. They rivalled in intelligence but also, and above all, in sensitivity, for the intellectual dimension of this art remains at the service of undeniable beauty. Featuring vocal suppleness and gentleness of lines, the De Caelis ensemble maintains an amorous relationship with this repertoire, the clarity and richness of their timbres allowing us to savour the marvels of the polyphonic writing.

A long-awaited new release of one of the world’s most respected medieval music ensembles, Crawford Young’s Ferrara Ensemble continues its interpretation of late Gothic composers, in the first recording ever of what has been called the Mt. Everest of music notation puzzles - Angelorum psalat of the Codex Chantilly, recently published in a new edition by Crawford Young. A pinnacle of complexity, the Codex Chantilly, c1400, reflects the taste of popes and secular rulers such as Jean, Duc de Berry. These works reflect the unprecedented progress of technology (seen in the development of clocks and music notation); the refinement of art (including the Très Riches Heures of Berry); questions about love and the meaning of life, at the time of the Black Death, devastating earthquakes, the Hundred Years War and the fracture of the Roman Catholic Church. The Ferrara Ensemble has interpreted medieval and Renaissance music since the 1980s, when Crawford Young and Randall Cook were working in the Medieval Department of the Schola Cantorum in Basel. Since then the Ferrara Ensemble has gained cult-status for its readings of Guillaume de Machaut, Walter Frye, Alexander Agricola, and perhaps preeminently, the composers of the French Ars Subtilior period. Critical acclaim has included being nominated as finalists for Gramophone’s Early Music Recording of the Year. Director Crawford Young recently collaborated on the CD of Oswald von Wolkenstein with Andreas Scholl, as director of the ensemble Shield of Harmony.

World-renowned vocal ensemble Gothic Voices, celebrated 25 years with its first appearance on Avie – the first recording of the complete works of Solage, the leading composer of the ars subtilior in late 14th century France and yet one about whom virtually nothing is known – not even his first name. The CD’s title, The Unknown Lover, reflects the composer’s anonymity, together with the fact that all twelve of Solage’s songs are love-songs. They are perfectly paired with the seven ars nova style songs by his earlier French contemporary Guillaume de Machaut, which provide a sorbet-like contrast and variety of texture to the richness and complexity of Solage’s output.

Any information about Solage’s life can only be surmised from the texts of his songs. Judging from the dedication of S’aincy estoit, it appears he was active in the court of Jean, Duc de Berry, during the 1380s and 90s, and from the virtuosity required by works such as Corps feminin we can safely assume that his music was mainly composed for professional musicians. The extremes of Solage’s rhythmic and chromatic experimentation, as in Fumeux fume par fumee, are some of the most challenging that Gothic Voices has ever encountered, making full use of the singers’ considerable experience and expertise.

Gothic Voices secured their place in recording history with A Feather on the Breath of God, one of the best-selling early music recordings ever made which launched a veritable worldwide Hildegard von Bingen industry. 20 further recordings followed, as did numerous awards and critical acclaim. Avie is delighted to welcome them to the label with this extraordinary and virtuostic music.

The Canadian ensemble for mediæval music Sine Nomine present an overview of music from six centuries and eleven countries throughout Europe. This daunting task has revealed some treasures indeed! The music ranges vocally from pious Gregorian chant to troubadour love songs and instrumentally with dances from the courtly Italian saltarello to a wild English estampie.