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The Dufay Spectacle

Gothic Voices 1

Credits Tracklist Programme note Sung texts Biography

The Dufay Spectacle Gothic Voices

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Design stoempstudio.com Post-production Julia Thomas

Recorded in Boxgrove Priory, West Sussex, UK, on 10–13 March 2016 Recording Producer & Engineer Philip Hobbs

Cover Image Wedding Feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and Louis of Thuringia in the Wartburg, Master of the St Elizabeth Panels (c. 1490–c. 1495)

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Guillaume Dufay (c. 1397–1474) The Dufay Spectacle Motets and Chansons

GOTHIC VOICES

The Welcome

A Ref lection

1 — Ce jour de l’an (monophonic) 0:36 Stephen Charlesworth baritone

4 — Et pour certain (monophonic) 0:37 Catherine King mezzo-soprano

2 — Vasilissa, ergo gaude /

Concupivit rex decorem 2:45 Clare Wilkinson mezzo-soprano

5 — Je requier a tous amoureux 2:31 Catherine King mezzo-soprano

Catherine King mezzo-soprano Julian Podger tenor Stephen Charlesworth baritone Jane Achtman vihuela d’arco Andrew Lawrence-King organ Keith McGowan douçaine Emily White sackbut

Andrew Lawrence-King bray harp

6 — Je vous pri / Tant que mon argent /

Ma tres douce amie 1:26 Catherine King mezzo-soprano

Steven Harrold tenor Julian Podger tenor Stephen Charlesworth baritone

7 — Je me complains piteusement 1:36 Steven Harrold tenor

3 — Entre vous, gentils amoureux 2:50 Catherine King mezzo-soprano

Steven Harrold tenor Jane Achtman vihuela d’arco

Julian Podger tenor Stephen Charlesworth baritone Andrew Lawrence-King regal

8 — Las, que feray? ne que je devenray? 4:32 Catherine King mezzo-soprano

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Steven Harrold tenor Julian Podger tenor

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Solemn Celebration 14 — Salve flos Tuscae gentis /

Vos nunc Etruscae / Viri mendaces 5:39

9 — Ce jour de l’an (improvisation) 0:36 Jane Achtman vihuela d’arco

Catherine King mezzo-soprano Julian Podger tenor Steven Harrold tenor Stephen Charlesworth baritone Andrew Lawrence-King organ Keith McGowan douçaine Emily White sackbut

15 —

Portigaler (arr. Anonymous, from ‘Or me veult bien Esperance mentir’ by Dufay [?], Buxheimer Orgelbuch) 3:12

Andrew Lawrence-King organ

16 —

Ecclesiae militantis / Sanctorum arbitrio / Bella canunt / Gabriel / Ecce nomen domini 4:37

10 — O sancte Sebastiane / O martyr Sebastiane /

O quam mira / Gloria et honore 4:39

Catherine King mezzo-soprano

Clare Wilkinson mezzo-soprano Julian Podger tenor Stephen Charlesworth baritone Jane Achtman vihuela d’arco Andrew Lawrence-King organ Keith McGowan douçaine Emily White sackbut

11 —

Se le fatze ay pale (arr. Anonymous, from ‘Se la face ay pale’

by Dufay [?], Buxheimer Orgelbuch) 1:51

12 —

Jane Achtman fiddle Andrew Lawrence-King organ

Se la phase pale (arr. Anonymous, from ‘Se la face ay pale’

by Dufay [?], Buxheimer Orgelbuch) 1:49

Jane Achtman fiddle Andrew Lawrence-King bray harp

13 — Vergene bella 3:41 Catherine King mezzo-soprano

Steven Harrold tenor Julian Podger tenor

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Catherine King mezzo-soprano Clare Wilkinson mezzo-soprano Steven Harrold tenor Julian Podger tenor Stephen Charlesworth baritone Jane Achtman vihuela d’arco Andrew Lawrence-King organ Keith McGowan douçaine Emily White sackbut

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17 — Resvelliés vous et faites chiere lye 5:00

21 — Quel fronte signorille 1:47

Catherine King mezzo-soprano

Jane Achtman vihuela d’arco

Andrew Lawrence-King psaltery

Andrew Lawrence-King bray harp

22 — Estrinez moy, je vous estrineray 2:46

18 — Apostolo glorioso / Cum tua doctrina /

Andreas, Christi famulus 3:14

Clare Wilkinson mezzo-soprano Catherine King mezzo-soprano Steven Harrold tenor Julian Podger tenor Stephen Charlesworth baritone Jane Achtman fiddle Andrew Lawrence-King organ Keith McGowan shawm Emily White sackbut

23 — Ce jour de l’an 0:38

Jane Achtman vihuela d’arco Andrew Lawrence-King bray harp

24 — Puisque vous estez campieur 2:48

Catherine King mezzo-soprano Steven Harrold tenor Jane Achtman vihuela d’arco

25 — Ce jour de l’an 2:43

Playful Celebration

19 — Ce jour de l’an (improvisation) 0:44

Catherine King mezzo-soprano Steven Harrold tenor Jane Achtman vihuela d’arco Andrew Lawrence-King psaltery

Andrew Lawrence-King psaltery

20 — Mon bien, m’amour 4:27 Steven Harrold tenor

Julian Podger tenor

Stephen Charlesworth baritone

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Catherine King mezzo-soprano Clare Wilkinson mezzo-soprano Steven Harrold tenor Julian Podger tenor Stephen Charlesworth baritone Jane Achtman vihuela d’arco Andrew Lawrence-King regal Keith McGowan shawm Emily White sackbut

The Dufay Spectacle

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It is New Year’s Day, and a special wedding is happening. In a magnificent banqueting hall the noble guests are gathering and exchanging courtesies, musicians are taking their places, keen to enhance the occasion with their fine voices and newly invented instruments. Guest of honour: France’s greatest proto-Renaissance composer, Guillaume Dufay.

In this spectacle of his musical versatility this sequence of chansons and motets stages an imaginary scene, set maybe somewhere in northern Italy, maybe sometime in the 1470s, at the end of his life. It is a dreamlike scene, perhaps it is even Dufay’s own dream, as it conjures vibrant images of various decorous occasions of his lifetime in the motets, whilst playfully acting out age-old themes that drive human emotions in the chansons. One moment we are at the grand wedding of nobleman Carlo II Malatesta and Vittoria Colonna in 1423, for which Dufay wrote the chanson Resvelliés vous, and at another celebrating the people of Florence in Salve flos Tuscae gentis or even the coronation of Pope Eugene IV in Ecclesiae militantis some years later, or finding ourselves in the almost legendary world of unassuming troubadours in the chansons.

It would certainly have been the stuff of dreams if Dufay really had been the guest of honour. Respected in high places as he was and confident enough to hail himself in the last line of text in the contratenor part of Salve flos Tuscae gentis, composers and musicians would at best only have had an elevated servant status. But his cultural status is clear enough historically, and his genius by posterity at the least. Having started musical life as a choirboy at Cambrai Cathedral, his renown in adulthood led him to various 4

prestigious posts of employment, with noble families in Italy and at the papal chapel in Rome, for extensive periods at a time. Eventually he was heralded as the most prominent musician of his day, and his resulting close ties with various dignitaries of state and church supported his central role in Burgundian culture. With the perspective of posterity we can observe how Dufay will have grown up with the legacies of musical creativity in all the late mediaeval compositional genres – of the formi­dable imagination of the great Guillaume de Machaut and the Ars Nova in general, of the fragrant complexity of the Ars Subtilior later in the fourteenth century, of the sweet melodies and smooth rhythms of English music in the so-called Contenance Angloise. Like all great artists, he will have drawn on this musical heritage to generate his own innovative style, his musical ideas and invention adding sophistication to the final flourish of the Mediaeval era; but, at the same time, the newly conscious deliberation in his composing concepts spawning the musical Renaissance, rendering his contribution to the cultural drive towards the burst into the new era immeasurable, and that with a quintessentially Burgundian flavour.

Our imaginary wedding feast has four parts: a welcoming introduction with a festive veneration of the imagined bride in Vasilissa, ergo gaude; a delve into the human emotions of despair, anger and hope in the second part; a resolution of these by the solemn expressions of faith and honour in the third, with the motet Vergene bella reflecting admiration of the bride, and by merry-making in the fourth, with the programme’s theme, ‘Ce jour de l’an voudray joye mener’ (‘This new year’s day I would like to rejoice’) finding its musical climax in a spirited finale.

The music chosen for this event – the chansons, here written in the mediaeval formes fixes of rondeau and ballade, their musical structure governed by the poetry; the motets, mostly isorhythmic, with the lower parts moving slowly and with a repeated rhythm sequence below the virtuosic upper voices; and one freely composed, non-isorythmic motet, the previously-mentioned Vergene bella – exemplifies not only Dufay’s versatility within a compositional style but also his confidence of variety of musical expression 5

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within the different genres, and furthermore the originality and virtuosity of composition within a single piece. We have particularly ambitious rhythmic progressive diminutions in the motets; note especially the exhilarating, mathematically complex cross-rhythms that are still somehow understandable to the ear in Ecclesiae militantis, slow sombreness in the motet Salve flos Tuscae gentis and upbeat cascades of melody in the motet Vasilissa, ergo gaude. The frolicking and passionate robustness in the chanson Ce jour de l’an makes us dance, the plaintive devotional ardour in Mon bien, m’amour makes us weep, and the highly virtuosic moments in Resvelliés vous contrasting with the still fermata, a feature also found in mass movements and Ars Subtilior chansons at devotional moments, could just leave us agape, listener and performer alike.

In terms of poetic content the various numbers explore the relationship between the optimism and vision of this New Year’s Day wedding feast and, inversely, some human emotional hardship, whether this would be interpreted as ‘real’ or as just a tease. But with the central chanson continuously ringing out its New Year’s promise throughout the feast, ce jour de l’an does indeed become the day to cast away fear and celebrate the occasion.

© Julian Podger, 2018

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GOTHIC VOICES CATHERINE KING mezzo-soprano STEVEN HARROLD tenor JULIAN PODGER tenor STEPHEN CHARLESWORTH baritone with CLARE WILKINSON mezzo-soprano JANE ACHTMAN vihuela d’arco / fiddle ANDREW LAWRENCE-KING organ / regal / bray harp / psaltery KEITH McGOWAN douçaine / shawm EMILY WHITE sackbut

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1 — Ce jour de l’an

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Ce jour de l’an voudray joye mener,

This new year’s day I would like to rejoice,

chanter, danser, et mener chiere lie,

to sing, to dance, and show a happy face,

pour maintenir la coutume jolye

so to maintain the joyful appearance

que tous amants sont tenus de garder.

that all lovers are required to maintain.

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2  — Vasilissa, ergo gaude / Concupivit rex decorem

Cantus I, Cantus II Vasilissa, ergo gaude,

Queen you are, therefore rejoice,

quia es digna omni laude,

because you are worthy of all praise,

Cleophe, clara gestis

Cleopha, shining by the deeds

a tuis de Malatestis,

by yours of Malatesta,

in Italia principibus

princes in Italy,

magnis et nobilibus.

great and noble.

Ex tuo viro clarior,

By your husband more famous,

quia cunctis est nobilior,

as he is more noble than everyone else,

Romeorum est despotus,

of the Romans he is lord,

quem colit mundus totus,

whom the whole world honours,

in porphyro est genitus,

in regal purple he was born,

a Deo missus caelitus.

from God sent from heaven.

Iuvenili aetate

In your era of youth

polles et formositate,

you are great, and in your beauty,

multum ingenio fecunda

with much talent, fruitful

et utraque lingua facunda

and in both languages eloquent,

ac clarior es virtutibus

yet more famous you are by your virtues,

prae aliis homnibus.

ahead of all these people.

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Resolutio Vasilissa, ergo gaude,

Queen you are, therefore rejoice,

quia es digna omni laude.

because you are worthy of all praise.

Contratenor, Tenor Concupivit rex decorem tuum

The king has desired your beauty

quoniam ipse est dominus tuus.

for he is your lord.

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3 — Entre vous, gentils amoureux

Entre vous, gentils amoureux,

Enter, gentle lovers,

ce jour de l’an soyés songneus

this new year’s day be careful

de bien servir chascum s’amie

to serve well, each his girl,

et de fuir merancolie,

and to flee from melancholy

se vous volés estre joieux.

if you wish to be joyful.

Ne soiés de riens curieux

Only be interested

que de faire gales et jeux

in merry-making and games

et de mener tres bone vie.

and in affecting a very good time.

Entre vous, gentils amoureux,

Enter, gentle lovers,

ce jour de l’an soyés songneus

this new year’s day be careful

de bien servir chascum s’amie.

to serve well, each his girl.

Et ne vous chaut des envieux,

And the jealous need not matter to you,

qui sont felons et despiteus.

who are false and contemptuous.

Chantés, dansés, quoi que nul die,

Sing, dance, whatever anyone says,

et qui ne peut chanter, se rie,

and whoever cannot sing should laugh,

je ne vous ay consilier mieulx.

I have no better advice.

Entre vous, gentils amoureux,

Enter, gentle lovers,

ce jour de l’an soyés songneus

this new year’s day be careful

de bien servir chascum s’amie

to serve well, each his girl,

et de fuir merancolie,

and to flee from melancholy

se vous volés estre joieux.

if you wish to be joyful.

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4 — Et pour certain

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Et pour certain tant me voudray poier

And for certain, so much I would like to put myself

que je puisse choisir nouvelle amie.

in a position to choose a new lover.

Hé, dieus d’amours, syés de ma partie,

Ah, gods of love, be with me,

que Fortune si ne me puist grever.

that Fortune may thus not grieve me.

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5 — Je requier a tous amoureux

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Je requier a tous amoureux

I ask of all lovers

qui jugent par leur courtoisie,

who judge by their courtesy,

ceux qui n’osent pas dire « amye »,

those who dare not say ‘lover’,

sont en amours bien heureux.

whether they are happy in their love.

A ce jour de l’an gracieux

On this pleasant new year’s day

me treuve de celle partye.

I find myself one of them.

Je requier a tous amoureux

I ask of all lovers

qui jugent par leur courtoisie.

who judge by their courtesy.

Mais vray Espoir, qui est songneux

But true Hope, who is eager

de moy garir ma maladie,

to cure my sickness,

me dist que je ne me soussye,

says to me that I should not worry,

que l’an a venir avray mieux.

for the coming year will be better.

Je requier a tous amoureux

I ask of all lovers

qui jugent par leur courtoisie,

who judge by their courtesy,

ceux qui n’osent pas dire « amye »,

those who dare not say ‘lover’,

sont en amours bien heureux.

whether they are happy in their love.

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6 — Je vous pri / Tant que mon argent /

Ma tres douce amie Superius Je vous pri, mon tres doulx ami,

I beg you, my very sweet love,

que briefment vuelliez revenir,

that shortly you may return,

affin que tost voye advenir

so that soon I see to happen

ce que promis avés a mi.

that which you have promised to me.

Contratenor I Tant que mon argent dura,

As long as my money lasts,

que tantost fauldra,

which so soon will run out,

nous menrons joieuse vie.

we will lead a happy life.

Or est mon argent fali.

Now my money has run out.

Adieu, mon ami!

Farewell, my love!

Adieu ma tres douce amie!

Farewell my very sweet love!

Helas, mon ami!

Alas, my love!

Et quant revenerés vous?

And when will you return?

…ce que promis avés a mi.

…that which you have promised to me.

Contratenor II Ma tres douce amie!

My very sweet love!

Mon cuer prent congiet

My heart takes its leave

maintenant de vous.

now of you.

Belle, ce poise moy.

Beauty, this weighs heavily on me.

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Adieu, mon ami!

Farewell, my love!

Helas, mon ami!

Alas, my love!

Et quant revenerés vous?

And when will you return?

…ce que promis avés a mi.

…that which you have promised to me.

Tenor Je vous pri, mon tres doulx ami,

I beg you, my very sweet love,

que briefment vuelliez revenir.

that shortly you may return.

Adieu, mon ami!

Farewell, my love!

Helas, mon ami!

Alas, my love!

Et quant revenerés vous?

And when will you return?

…ce que promis avés a mi.

…that which you have promised to me.

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7 — Je me complains piteusement

Je me complains piteusement,

I complain pityfully

a moi tout seul plus qu’a nullui,

to myself, all alone, more than to anyone,

de la griesté, paine e tourment,

of the difficulty, pain and torment,

que je souffre plus que ne di.

which I suffer more than I say.

Dangier me tient en tel soussi

This power keeps me in such worrying

qu’eschever ne puis sa rudesse,

that escape I cannot from its harshness,

et Fortune le veult aussi,

and Fortune wishes this too,

mais, par ma foy, ce fait jonesse.

but, by my faith, this is what youth does.

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8 — Las, que feray? ne que je devenray?

Las, que feray? ne que je devenray?

Alas, what will I do? and what will become of me?

Est il nesun qui me puist consoler?

Is there nobody who can comfort me?

ny aligier des maulx qu’ay a porter

or alleviate the harm which I have to bear

et nuit et jour, sans que deservy l’ay?

both night and day, without my having deserved it?

J’ay bien cause se je crye hahay,

I have good reason to cry ah-ah,

quant mon amy me veult abandoner.

when my lover wishes to abandon me.

Las, que feray? ne que je devenray?

Alas, what will I do? and what will become of me?

Est il nesun qui me puist consoler?

Is there nobody who can comfort me?

Je l’ay amé leyaulment de cuer vray,

I have loved her loyally, of a true heart,

mais cest amer me sera moult amer,

but this love will to me be very bitter,

car qui aime sans partye trouver,

for he who loves without finding any return,

en verité il n’est pas sans esmay.

in truth he is not without fear.

Las, que feray? ne que je devenray?

Alas, what will I do? and what will become of me?

Est il nesun qui me puist consoler?

Is there nobody who can comfort me?

ny aligier des maulx qu’ay a porter

or alleviate the harm which I have to bear

et nuit et jour, sans que deservy l’ay?

both night and day, without my having deserved it?

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10  — O sancte Sebastiane / O martyr Sebastiane /

O quam mira / Gloria et honore

Cantus I O sancte Sebastiane,

O Saint Sebastian,

semper, vespere et mane,

always, at evening and morning,

horis cunctis et momentis,

at all hours and moments,

dum adhuc sum sanae mentis,

as long as I am of a sound mind,

me protege et conserva

protect and preserve me,

et a me, martyr, enerva

and, O martyr, weaken

infirmitatem noxiam

the cruel illness,

vocatam epidemiam.

called epidemic.

Tu de peste huiusmodi

May you from this kind of plague

me defende et custodi

defend and keep me

et omnes amicos meos,

and all of my friends,

qui nos confitemur reos

we who acknowledge ourselves as sinners

Deo et sanctae Mariae

to God and to holy Mary

et tibi, O martyr pie.

and to you, O pious martyr.

Tu Mediolanus civis

You, O citizen of Milan,

hanc pestilentiam, si vis,

this plague, if you wish,

potes faces cessare

these causes of ruin can restrain

et ad Deum impetrare,

and ask this of God,

quia a multis est scitum,

for to many it is known,

quod de hoc habes meritum.

that for this you have great value.

Zoe mutam tu sanasti

Zoe the mute you cured 18

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et sanatam restaurasti

and cured you returned her

Nicostratos eius viro,

to her husband Nicostratus,

hoc faciens modo miro.

this so doing as a miracle.

In agone consolabas

In their suffering you consoled

martyres et promittebas

the martyrs and promised

eis sempiternam vitam

them eternal life,

et martyribus debitam.

and what is due to martyrs.

Amen.

Amen.

Resolutio O sancte Sebastiane,

O Saint Sebastian,

semper, vespere et mane,

always, at evening and morning,

horis cunctis et momentis,

at all hours and moments,

dum adhuc sum sanae mentis.

as long as I am of a sound mind.

Cantus II O martyr Sebastiane,

O martyr Sebastian,

tu semper nobiscum mane

always with us stay

atque per tua merita

and also, by your merits,

nos, qui sumus in hac vita

us, who are in this life,

custodi, sana et rege

keep, heal, and rule

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et a peste nos protege,

and from the plague protect us,

praesentans nos trinitati

presenting us to the trinity

et virgini sanctae matri.

and to the virgin holy mother.

Et sic vitam finiamus,

And thus we may finish life,

quod mercedem habeamus

that we may receive mercy

et martyrum consortium

and have the company of martyrs

et Deum videre pium.

and the vision of the holy God.

Amen.

Amen.

Contratenor O quam mira refulsit gratia

O how with wonderful grace shone

Sebastianus, martyr inclitus,

Sebastian, the famous martyr,

qui militis portans insignia,

who, carrying military emblems,

sed de fratrum palma sollicitus

but, by the palm of the brethren, caring,

confortavit corda pallentia

comforted the weakening hearts

verbo sibi collatus caelitus.

with words to them given from heaven.

Amen.

Amen.

Tenor Gloria et honore.

In glory and honour.

Amen.

Amen.

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13 — Vergene bella

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Vergene bella, che di sol vestita,

Beautiful virgin, who are dressed in the sun,

coronata di stelle al sommo sole

crowned with stars the highest sun

piacesti si, che’n te sua luce ascose,

you so much pleased that he hid his light in you,

amor mi spigne a dir di te parole,

love compels me to speak words of you,

ma non so’n cominciar senza tu’ aita,

but I know not to begin without your help,

e di colui ch’amando in te si pose.

and that of him who, lovingly, placed himself in you.

Invoco lei che ben sempre rispose

I invoke her who without fail answered

chi la chiamo con fede.

whoever called her with faith.

Vergene, s’a mercede

Virgin, if you have mercy,

miseria estrema de l’humane cose,

extreme pity for human things,

gia mai ti volse, al mio prego t’inchina,

never turn away, to my prayers incline yourself,

soccorri alla mia guerra,

help with my strife,

bench’i’ sia terra,

even though I would be of earth,

e tu del ciel regina.

and you of heaven the queen.

Petrarch (1304–1374)

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14 — Salve f los Tuscae gentis /

Vos nunc Etruscae / Viri mendaces Cantus Salve flos Tuscae gentis,

Hail flower of the Tuscan people,

Florentia, salve,

O Florence, hail,

O salve,

O hail,

Italici gloria magna soli.

great glory of Italy’s soil.

Salve, quae doctos felix

Hail, happy mother,

tot mater alumnos,

you who so many learned disciples,

tot generas magnos

so many great people

consilio atque fide,

produce in counsel and faith,

quae tot praestantes

who such excellent wonderful

mira integritudine,

people of integrity,

quae tot praestantes

who such excellent men

generas religione viros.

of conscientiousness yield.

Salve, cui debet quodcumque

Hail, city to which

est artis honestae,

any true art is owing,

ingenii quicquid,

any talent,

quicquid et eloquii est.

and any eloquence.

Salve, quae fama totum

Hail, you, whose fame

diffusa per orbem

is dispersed throughout the globe,

et vehere et natos

both are conveyed and your children

mittis ad astra tuos.

send to your stars.

Nunc cecini et grato

Now I have sung and melodious

voces placuere canorae

voices have been pleasing, 22

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praemia, mercedes

not demanding rewards or wages,

nec periere simul.

nor have they faded.

Fessus ego

Tired I am

haud cantu,

by no means with having recited,

vox est defessa

the voice is exhausted

canendo,

with singing,

sed tu carminibus

but may you live to be sung

vive canenda meis.

in my songs.

Contratenor Vos nunc Etruscae

You now, maidens of Etruria,

iubeo salvere puellae.

I bid hail.

Sic sedet hoc animo

Thus remains my spirit,

nec sine amore moror.

nor without love do I stay.

Stant foribus nymphis similes,

They stand at the gates like nymphs,

stant naiades

they stand like naiads

utquae aut ut amazonides

or even like amazons

aut proca diva Venus.

or the godly Venus.

Fervet in amplexus

Ardent for their embraces

atque oscula dulcia quisque,

and sweet kisses is every man,

si semel has viderit,

if once he has seen these,

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captus amore cadet.

of love a captive he will fall.

Ista, deae mundi,

These things, O goddesses of the world,

vester per saecula cuncta,

yours through all ages,

Guillermus cecini

I, Guillaume, have sung,

natus et ipse Fay.

born and himself Fay.

Tenor I Viri mendaces.

Lying men.

Tenor II Viri mendaces.

Lying men.

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16 — Ecclesiae militantis / Sanctorum arbitrio /

Bella canunt / Gabriel / Ecce nomen domini Cantus I Ecclesiae militantis

Of the church militant,

Roma sedes triumphantis

let the seat, Rome, of the triumphing

patris sursum sidera

father above the stars,

carmen cleri resonantis

a song of the resounding clergy,

laudem pontifici dantis

of praise-giving to the pope,

promat voce libera.

bring forth with a free voice.

Gabrielem quem vocavit,

Gabriel, thus called

dum paternum crimen lavit,

when the ancestral sin was washed away

baptismatis sumptio,

by the taking-up of baptism,

Eugenium revocavit,

was renamed Eugenius,

bonum genus quod notavit,

which marked his good race,

pontificis lectio.

by the papal election.

Quod consulta contio

Which the well advised assembly

– qua nam sancta ratio –

– what holy reasoning –

sic deliberavit,

has so determined,

ut sola devotio

that devotion alone

regnet in palatio

may reign in the palace

quod Deus beavit.

that God blessed.

Certe Deus voluit

Certainly God willed it,

et in hoc complacuit

and in this gave pleasure 25

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Venetorum proli,

to the Venetian descendants,

sed demon indoluit,

but the devil was grieved

quod peccatum defuit

that sin was lacking

tantae rerum moli.

from such an event.

Dulcis pater populi,

Sweet father of the people,

qui dulcorem poculi,

you who the sweetness of the cup,

crapulam perhorres,

drunkenness, abhor,

pone lento consuli

assign to a tenacious counsellor

rem gregis pauperculi,

the matter of your poor little flock,

ne nescius erres.

lest you by ignorance go astray.

Pater haerens filio

Let the father, adhering to the son,

spiritus confinio

allied with the spirit,

det prece sollemni

give by our solemn prayer

gaudium Eugenio,

joy to Eugenius,

perfecto dominio,

his dominion completed,

in vita perenni.

in eternal life.

Amen.

Amen.

Cantus II Sanctorum arbitrio

By the judgment

clericorum proprio

of the holy clerks

corde meditanti,

with a thinking heart,

aequum genus atrio

the just race the hall

accedit ludibrio

approaches, to the mockery

umbrae petulanti.

of the impudent shade.

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Nam torpens inertia,

For stupefying laziness,

longa quaerens otia,

seeking a long idleness,

nescivit Eugenium,

was not known by Eugenius,

sed iuris peritia

but proficiency in law

cum tota iustitia

and total justice

sunt eius ingenium.

are his nature.

Hinc est testimonium:

This is the evidence:

pacem quaerit omnium,

peace he seeks for all,

exosus piaculi,

he is hating of sin,

et trinum dominium

and his triple dominion

daemonis et carnium

of the devil and the flesh

pompam vincit saeculi.

defeats the pomp, and that of the world.

Quam color ipse poli

As the very colour of heaven,

dic scutum quod attuli

say, is the shield that I have brought

tibi, pater optime,

to you, O best father,

sacrum dat, quod oculi

it renders a holy thing, in which your eyes

tui instar speculit

a likeness see and

cernunt nitidissime.

discern, O brightest one.

Eia tu, pulcherrime,

Ah, you most beauteous,

quaerimus, tenerrime,

we question, O most tender one,

moram longi temporis.

the delay of a long time.

Ducimur asperrime

We are led most harshly,

nescio quo ferrime

I know not what we have suffered

ad fulmentum corporis.

to the support of the body.

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Una tibi trinitas

One trinity,

vera Deus unitas

the true unity, may God

det caeli fulgorem,

grant you the glow of heaven,

quem linea bonitas,

you whom linen goodness,

argentea castitas,

and silver chastity

secta vis in morem.

powerfully distinguish.

Amen.

Amen.

Contratenor Bella canunt gentes,

Wars sound the nations,

quaerimur, pater optime, tempus.

we complain, O best father, of our time.

Expediet multos,

Many will be brought to freedom,

si cupis, una dies.

if you desire, in one day.

Nummus et hora fluunt

Money and time flow away,

magnumque iter

and the great journey

orbis agendum

over the globe is to be made,

nec suus in toto noscitur orbe deus.

yet in the whole world his god is not known.

Amen.

Amen.

Tenor I Gabriel.

Gabriel.

Tenor II Ecce nomen domini.

This is the name of the lord.

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17 — Resvelliés vous et faites chiere lye

Resvelliés vous et faites chiere lye

Awake and make you a happy face,

tous amoureux qui gentillesse amés,

all lovers who love honour,

esbatés vous, fuyés merancolye,

amuse yourselves, flee melancholy,

de bien servir point ne soyés hodés.

to serve well do not be weary.

Car au jour d’ui sera li espousés,

For today they will be married,

par grant honneur et noble seignourie,

by great honour and nobility,

se vous convient ung chascum faire feste,

if you please, each of you, make it a feast,

pour bien grignier la belle compagnye.

to mind well the fine entourage.

Il a dame belle et bonne choysie,

He has chosen a beautiful and good lady,

dont il sera grandement honnourés,

by whom he will be greatly honoured,

car elle vient de tres noble lignie

for she comes from a very noble line,

et de barons qui sont mult renommés.

and from barons who are much renowned.

Son propre nom est Victore clamés,

Her name is stated as Victoria,

de la Colonne vient sa progenie.

from Colonna come her family.

C’est bien rayson qu’a vascule requeste

It is certain that in the hunt for the cup,

de ceste dame mainne bonne vie

by this lady would prevail a good life

Charle gentil,

of Charles the noble,

c’on dit de Maleteste.

of whom one says is of Malatesta.

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18 — Apostolo glorioso / Cum tua doctrina /

Andreas, Christi famulus Cantus I, Contratenor I Apostolo glorioso, da Dio electo

Glorious apostle, chosen by God

a evangelegiare al populo greco

to preach to the Greek people

la sua incarnazion, che v’era ceco,

his incarnation, who to this were blind,

et cusi festi senza alcun suspecto.

and so you did, without any doubt.

Et eligisti a Patrasso per tuo lecto

And you chose Patras for your place of rest

et per sepulcro questo sancto speco.

and for your tomb this holy cave.

Prego te, preghi me retrove teco,

I pray you, pray for me that I may find you again,

per li tuoi merci, nel devin conspecto.

through your mercies, in the divine presence.

Cantus II, Contratenor II Cum tua doctrina convertisti a Christo

With your doctrine you converted to Christ

tuto el paese, et cum la passione et morte

the whole land, and with the suffering and death

che qui portasti in croce in su lo olivo.

that you bore on a cross up on the olive grove.

Ma é prolasso in errore et facto tristo.

But it has reverted to sin and is made sad.

Si che rempetraglie gracia si forte

May it receive such strong grace

che recognoscano a Dio vero et vivo.

that they may recognize God, true and living.

Tenor Andreas, Christi famulus.

Andrew, servant of Christ.

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20 — Mon bien, m’amour

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Mon bien, m’amour et ma maistresse,

My delight, my love and my mistress,

esse ce que m’avés promis?

would this be what you promised me?

Mis m’avés hors du sens rassis,

You have put me out of my calm sense,

six foys m’avés fait grande rudesse.

six times you have done to me a great cruelty.

De ce vous requiers, ma princesse,

Because of this I ask you, my princess,

cesser, a vous seray toudis.

cease, I will be with you forever.

Mon bien, m’amour et ma maistresse,

My delight, my love and my mistress,

esse ce que m’avés promis?

would this be what you promised me?

Dix ans a que vostre noblesse

Ten years it is since your nobility

blessié m’a au cuer et soupris,

wounded me in my heart and surprised me,

pris m’a trop fort a mon advis,

it has seized me too strongly in my view,

advisez que j’aye lyesse.

consider that I should be happy.

Mon bien, m’amour et ma maistresse,

My delight, my love and my mistress,

esse ce que m’avés promis?

would this be what you promised me?

Mis m’avés hors du sens rassis,

You have put me out of my calm sense,

six foys m’avés fait grande rudesse.

six times you have done to me a great cruelty.

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22 — Estrinez moy, je vous estrineray

Estrinez moy, je vous estrineray,

Give me something, I will give you something,

ma seulle amour. De quoy ? Du cuer que j’ay

my only love. What? The heart that I have

pour vous donner ce jour de l’an nouvel,

to give you, on this day of the new year,

prenés en gré ! Si fai je, amis tres bel,

take it gladly! So I do, very beautiful lover,

aussy le mien a tous jours vous donray.

I will also give you mine forever.

Tres grant mercy, pourtant vous serviray,

Much thanks, and so I will serve you,

sans departir. Or bien. Dont sans delay

without leaving. So yes. So without delay,

a che bon jour de joye et de revel.

on this good day of joy and revelry.

Estrinez moy, je vous estrineray,

Give me something, I will give you something,

ma seulle amour. De quoy ? Du cuer que j’ay

my only love. What? The heart that I have

pour vous donner ce jour de l’an nouvel.

to give you, on this day of the new year.

Et allegiés mez maulx, ou je morray

And relieve my ills, or I will die

par desespoir. Et quant ? Las, je ne scay,

by despair. But when? Alas, I do not know,

je sui feru ja mieulx que d’un coutel

I am wounded ever worse than with a knife

de vos doulx yeulx. Et vous fait donques tel

by your sweet eyes. And you act then as

en verité ? Se vous conforteray.

in truth? So I will comfort you.

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Estrinez moy, je vous estrineray,

Give me something, I will give you something,

ma seulle amour. De quoy ? Du cuer que j’ay

my only love. What? The heart that I have

pour vous donner ce jour de l’an nouvel,

to give you, on this day of the new year,

prenés en gré ! Si fai je, amis tres bel,

take it gladly! So I do, very beautiful lover,

aussy le mien a tous jours vous donray.

I will also give you mine forever.

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24  — Puisque vous estez campieur

Puisque vous estez campieur,

Since you are a fighter,

voulentiers a vous campiroye,

willingly with you would I fight,

a savoir mon, se je pourroye

to know for myself whether I could

a vous, pour estre bon pieur.

with you, and to be a good boozer.

Et si vous estez sapieur,

And if you were a guzzler,

contre vous aussi sapiroye.

against you would I also eat,

Puisque vous estez campieur,

Since you are a fighter,

voulentiers a vous campiroye.

willingly with you would I fight.

Vous me cuidez maulvais pieur,

You suppose me to be a bad boozer,

mais pour trois pos bien les piroye,

but three pots, well would I drink them,

vrayment, ou je me tapiroye

truly, or else I would hide myself

comme du monde le pieur.

as though of the world the worst.

Puisque vous estez campieur,

Since you are a fighter,

voulentiers a vous campiroye,

willingly with you would I fight,

a savoir mon, se je pourroye

to know for myself whether I could

a vous, pour estre bon pieur.

with you, and to be a good boozer.

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25 — Ce jour de l’an

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Ce jour de l’an voudray joye mener,

This new year’s day I would like to rejoice,

chanter, danser, et mener chiere lie,

to sing, to dance, and show a happy face,

pour maintenir la coutume jolye

so to maintain the joyful appearance

que tous amants sont tenus de garder.

that all lovers are required to maintain.

Et pour certain tant me voudray poier

And for certain, so much I would like to put

que je puisse choisir nouvelle amie.

myself in a position to choose a new lover.

Ce jour de l’an voudray joye mener,

This new year’s day I would like to rejoice,

chanter, danser, et mener chiere lie.

to sing, to dance, and show a happy face.

A laquelle je puisse presenter

To whom I could offer heart,

cuer, corps et biens, sans faire despartie.

body and good things, without failing to share.

Hé, dieus d’amours, syés de ma partie,

Ah, gods of love, be with me,

que Fortune si ne me puist grever.

that Fortune may thus not grieve me.

Ce jour de l’an voudray joye mener,

This new year’s day I would like to rejoice,

chanter, danser, et mener chiere lie,

to sing, to dance, and show a happy face,

pour maintenir la coutume jolye

so to maintain the joyful appearance

que tous amants sont tenus de garder.

that all lovers are required to maintain.

Translation: Julian Podger 35

Gothic Voices

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For more than thirty-five years Gothic Voices has been world-renowned for the excellence, refinement and spirituality of its performances of mediaeval music.

Gothic Voices remains firmly wedded to its long-standing principle of bringing mediaeval works into the musical mainstream by means of world-class performances and a thought-provoking range of well-researched programmes. Using their voices in richly varying combinations to produce performances of great beauty, liveliness and integrity, they continue to win the appreciation of audiences all over the world.

The group also enjoys performing contemporary music, particularly pieces with mediaeval associations such as in its Mary Star of the Sea (Linn CKD 541) programme (with new compositions on old texts by Joanne Metcalf and Andrew Smith). Their innovative performances which combine contemporary and old music complement their more traditional programmes.Â

Gothic Voices has recorded over twenty-five albums, three of which won the coveted Gramophone Early Music Award. Its first recording A feather on the breath of God – Sequences and Hymns by Saint Hildegard of Bingen still remains one of the bestselling recordings of pre-Classical music ever.

They appear frequently in all parts of Great Britain and in Festivals across Europe and beyond. www.gothicvoices.co.uk 36

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© Eric Richmond

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Also available on Linn

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CKD 541 Gothic Voices Mary Star of the Sea

CKD 529 Sollazzo Ensemble Parle qui veut: Moralizing Songs of the Middle Ages

CKD 569 Dunedin Consort Monteverdi: Vespers 1610

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CKD 517 Magnificat Scattered Ashes

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CKD 541

CKD 529

CKD 569

CKD 517

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