Cesena - Music of the Codex Chantilly
Graindelavoix
Glossa GCD P32106

Shortly after the publication of the Chantilly pieces by Tetraktys quite a different version with strong alterations of colours and quarter tones etc., interpreting the texts quite strongly. Unfortunately, there are no translations of the complex texts given and only very superficial and short notes. This is not what one can expect from a serious artist such as Björn Schmelzer!

Codex Chantilly
Ensemble Tetractys
Etcetera Ktc 1905

Very refined repertoire of the so called Ars Subtilior. The playing is very sensitive albeit a little too tame. The singing is beautiful but the text not always very present. More consonants please!

Audiofiles

Josquin instrumental fantasie
Ensemble Leones
Christophorus 4929549

Instrumental fantasies of the last third of the 15th century are not very well known. The present interpretation is in many respects exemplary. The origin in free improvisation is still present in a very immediate and lively approach of the players. Very good balance between single voices and a common breath. The instruments are wonderfully warm and speaking, as is the solo voice of Raitis Grigalis. Very good sound recording.

Audiofiles 

Music from the Ms. Krasinski (Poland around 1440)
Musica Divina
Bearton CDB034

In 1944 the Germans burnt down the famous Krasinski library. Thousands of manuscripts and prints vanished in the flames. Thus we have today a very little idea of Polish music in the Renaissance. Miraculously one manuscript survived the flames. Composers like Mikolaj of Radom had international standing, as we can hear now in comparison with e. g. Ciconia. Musica Divina sings rather mainstream, but the repertoire is very much worth being discovered.

Alexander Agricola, Missa In mynen zin and Chansons/Motets
Capilla Flamenca
Ricercar Ric 306

Agricola is very fashionable these days. Once more an excellent recording with Capilla Flamenca. Wonderful phrasing and musical sensuality. 

Cecus - Music by Agricola, de la Rue and Josquin
graindelavoix
Glossa GCD P32105

After their very excentric and controversial Ars subtilior cd, Graindelavoix sounds now much less weird and there is less mix of very different styles of singing, which is no disadvantage. Extremely beautiful and powerful singing. The ensemble sounds more homogenous and emotionally touching. There is certainly no more moving rendering of Agricola's Fortuna desperata on the market. Very interesting thoughts about colour, texture and gesture in music by Björn Schmelzer.  

Ockeghem & Compere
La Main Harmonique
Ligia Digital 0202217

Chansons by Ockeghem, Compere and Agricola. Some of the Ockeghem chansons like Aultre Venus and La despourveue  have been rarely recorded. Very clear and nice rendering of instruments and voices, good phrasing and text rendering. All the more astonishing that there are no translations in the booklet.

Vivat Leo - Music from the papal court in the Codex Medici
Cappella Pratensis, Joshua Rifkin
Works by Willaert, de la Fage, Motun, Josquin, de Silva and Festa
Challenge Classics CC 72366  

This CD is exemplary in every respect. Perfectly clear text, wonderful phrasing, every voice individually recognizable, great musicality. Also, a beautiful mixture of familiar works and new discoveries. And not to be underestimated: a booklet equally well written for amateurs and professionals!

Josquin: Masses on L'homme armé
Ensemble Métamorphoses
Calliope 9441

This is the best interpretation of Josquin's L'homme armé super voces musicales and Sexti toni I know. Wonderful individual voices, the musical rhetorics clearly brought out, and what is more, emotional singing!

Soundbites 

Codex St. Emmeram