Track 2: A vous non autre servir habandonné (Pierre de la Rue)
DAME DE DEUIL – Musical Offerings for Marguerite of Austria
Label: ET’CETERA/CODAEX (KTC 4011), 2005
Marguerite of Austria (1480-1530) experienced a series of personal tragedies during the first three decades of her life. Despite her misfortunes, she has skillfully ruled The Netherlands for her nephew, Charles V. She is also remembered for her patronage over the arts.
A creative personality with literary and musical talents, she has made her court in Mechelen (now Belgium) a mansion of flamboyant late Burgundian culture. Musical manuscripts which were probably part of Marguerite’s library include two songbooks and a handsome collection of courtly bassedanse tenors (foundations for improvised polyphonic dance compositions). All were most likely prepared for Marguerite herself – song collections contain settings of her plaintive texts, and the book of bassedanse tenors reflects her nostalgy for expiring Burgundian glories.
LA MORRA: Els Janssens (voice), Corina Marti (recorders & claviciterium), Michal Gondko (lutes), Dani Pelagatti (douçaine), Uri Smilansky, Elizabeth Rumsey, Brigitte Gasser (viols)
ARTISTIC DIRECTION: Corina Marti & Michal Gondko
With an introductory essay by Michal Gondko
REVIEWS
- A highly worthwhile project. (Early Music)
- Het is van de ene schoonheidservaring in de andere glijden. Dat is niet alleen te wijten aan de schitterende muziek, maar ook aan de uitvoerders… Alleen al deze instrumenten imitatief met elkaar horen communiceren is van een groots sonoor genot. Elk stukje muziek op deze cd, hoe zwaar ook van inhoud, kan bovendien rekenen op een subtiele toon en interpretatie (www.klara.be)
- Un nivel artístico de altísima calidad… Una belleza desbordante…. LA MORRA nos deslumbra no sólo con una música excelsa, sino también con unas interpretaciones que en la actualidad muy pocas formaciones especializadas en la música franco-flamenca del Renacimiento podrían igualar. (Diverdi)