STYLE: Choral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 7119- LABEL: Hyperion CDA67319 FORMAT: CD Album
Reviewed by Steven Whitehead
One does not need to read the helpful and informative booklet to realise that these pieces are medieval. Antoine Busnois and Petrus de Domarto both lived in the 15th century. Hearing this music is like stepping back in time. This is the real thing, not some mock-Gregorian “chill out”. I was amazed at how time slipped away as I was listening to this. At about the 40 minute mark I checked my watch and could not believe where the time had gone. This is absorbing music and is wonderfully sung by the Binchois Consort, conducted by Andrew Kirkman. All is sung a cappella and in Latin. Once I started to follow the translation included in the booklet my appreciation went up another level. The words and melody fit together and the three composers featured (Jean Pullois providing the closing five minutes) complement each other remarkably well. Obscure perhaps but worth investigating.
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