Guillaume de Machaut and the French Ars Nova

Our debut CD featuring Ballades and Motets by Guillaume de Machaut (c.1300-1377) and two of his contemporaries: P. des Molins (fl. c. 1360), and F. Andrieu (fl. c. 1370). We're joined by tenor Jordan Sramek for this recording.

Read what the critics have been saying about it:

1. Felix virgo, mater Christi / Inviolata genitrix
/ Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes (3:50)

2. Trop plus est bele que biauté / Biauté parée de valour
/ Je ne sui mie certeins d'avoir amie (2:28)

3. J'aim miex languir en ma dure dolour (5:25)

4. Dame, ne regardes pas (7:04)

5. Quant en moy vint premierement
/ Amour et biauté parfaite / Amara valde (3:40)

6. Donnez, signeurs, donnez à toutes mains (5:22)

7. Martyrum gemma latria / Diligenter inquiramus
/ A Christo honoratus (3:26)

8. Je ne cuit pas qu'oncques à creature (5:44)

9. Dame, de qui toute ma joie vient (6:23)

10. Qui es promesses de Fortune se fie
/ Ha! Fortune trop sui mis loing de port / Et non est qui adjuvet (1:45)

11. De ce que foul pense (P. des Molins) (5:43)

12. Armes, amours, dames, chevalerie
/ O flour des flours de toute melodie (F. Andrieu) (7:24)

Medieval Music in English Manuscripts

RELEASED ON PASSACAILLE SEPTEMBER 2004

Reviews of this CD:

American Record Guide
“The singing is responsible, tasteful, and unfailingly artistic, with lovely balancing and blending of voices. Those who may regret the dismantling of Anonymous 4 would do well now to embrace Liber unUsualis—and be much the better off for doing so. This plucky little ensemble is a treasure to nurture.”

Early Music America
"The singing is musical and informed, making this disc with its novel repertoire a recommended buy."

Crescendo (Belgium)
"10/10 -- Real vocal virtuosity...their voices are ideally beautiful.... Truly bliss for the ear."

WholeNote (Canada)
" A stunning sound and the research to back it up."

Program:

1. Kyrie, Cuthberte prece (Durham, c.1350) (3:55)

2. Barbara simplex animo (Meaux Abbey, c.1300) (1:25)

3. Patris superni gracia / Pia pacis inclita (Meaux Abbey, c.1300) (2:16)

4. Veni mater gracie / Dou way Robin (Adel, Yorkshire, 1349) (3:58)

5. Sanctus (Fountains Abbey, c.1380) (1:58)

6. Includimur nube caliginosa (Fountains Abbey, 14th c.) (3:44)

7. Ave mundi rosa (Fountains Abbey, 14th c.) (3:41)

8. Gabriel fram heven-king (4:30)
(solo: East Anglia?, c.1280/duet: Adel, Yorkshire, 1349/trio: Dublin, c.1360)

9. Doleo super te / Absolon, fili me (Norwich, c. 1320) (1:33)

10. Kyrie: Kyria Christefera (Norwich?, c. 1330-60) (4:10)

11. O lux beata trinitas (Norwich?, c. 1330-60) (2:18)

12. Novi sideris lumen resplenduit (Bury St. Edmunds, c.1280) (4:11)

13. Pura, placens/Parfundement plure Absolon (Bury St. Edmunds, 14th c.) (3:17)

14. Veine pleine de ducur (Bury St. Edmunds?, c.1280) (2:53)

15. Ar ne kuth ich sorghe non (London?, c.1230) (3:53)

16. Gaude virgo immaculata (Royal Chapel of Edward III, c.1350-60) (3:08)

17. Singularis laudis digna (Royal Chapel of Edward III, c.1350-60) (5:37)