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SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE
“'Treasure-hoard' might do to describe Saturday night’s program. It is difficult to imagine much better guides to this daunting yet uncannily captivating music than these musicians. . . . Everything was brilliantly and sensitively sung, and was fashioned into a program that was a rare combination of ingenious design and seeming naturalness of progression from one piece to the next.”

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.”

CRESCENDO
“The young artists of Liber unUsualis…show a real vocal virtuosity.… Their voices are ideally beautiful and their refined interpretation is full of panache in a musical genre not seen very often.… Truly bliss for the ear.”

IRISH TIMES
“This group struck a well-nigh perfect balance between academic authenticity and heart-warming expressiveness. Their vocal style is neither raucous nor over-cultivated, and it has all the agility of sean-nós. They sing intently to each other, but in a way that deeply involves their audience.”

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL
“The trio was absolutely on top of their game, executing even the most floridly ornamented passages in tight sync with a pure sound and centered pitch.… They sang with pure, controlled sounds and performed in a communicative, thoughtful style, handling the music not as a precious antique but as something vital and fascinating.... They created a musically heartfelt performance that was rich in musical and historical details.”

"This disc might have been titled 'Machaut the Sensualist', for that's the way the singers of Liber unUsualis approach this 14th-century master's music. It's not so much the Boston-based a cappella trio's rich tone that creates this impression as the care with which they unfold the music's extensive and often intricately coiled melodic tendrils. The effect is deeply expressive.... Liber unUsualis imbue this music with...nobility and grace. The effect is ravishing.... A most impressive recording." - Gramophone (UK)

"This is a superb rendition of 12 pieces by Guillaume de Machaut and his circle, using exactly as many voices as needed without any instruments at all. One ballade, J'aim miex languir, receives its first recording, a cause for rejoicing, given this level of accomplishment.... The familiar double ballade of Andrieu in memory of Machaut receives its best recording since Ensemble P.A.N.'s of 15 years ago, improving on that excellent version by omitting its vielle and lute. Some of the remaining pieces are a distinct improvement over anything previously recorded.... The motets as a group are generally superior to anything heard in the past.... This disc has at least four unimpeachable reasons to acquire it, along with uniformly superior performances on the rest of the disc.... They have paid attention to all the current issues in performance practice, including Pythagorean tuning, linear voicing, period-specific pronunciation, and handling untexted melodic lines sensibly. Things don't get much better than this, as far as records go." - Fanfare

"Warm and compelling.... The precision of their voices...will have you crying in your goblet." - Providence Phoenix (US)

"They do justice to their name. They take risks with this repertoire.... The intonation and union are perfect in this group.... The ductility [flexibility] of the two female voices was reminiscent of the intonation and precision of the members of Anonimus 4.... A perfect balance." - Goldberg Magazine (Spain)

"The singers of Liber unUsualis...do justice to the elegance of Machaut's music and texts. In various pairings, the singers are matched effectively, never dominating each other but performing in perfect ensemble.... Their attempt at performing in the tuning system of the 14th century.... As well as their careful pronunciation of Medieval French and Latin, speaks to the group's historical integrity." - Early Music America Magazine

"Without a doubt an unusual trio.... The vitality and power of their song and the musicality with which they approach the pieces catches the ear of the listener.... It was a very attractive experience" - La Vanguardia (Spain)

"Elegant and spot-on.... Flowing and ethereal...a hair-trigger sensitivity to what the words had to say.... Deeply moving. " - The Boston Globe

"Full-voiced purity.... Sung with immaculate diction and delivered with focused attention to the text's meaning.... Most surprising about this music were the heartfelt emotions coming not only from the singers, but the music itself." - Birmingham News (Alabama)

SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE
"Strong, vibrant voices that are nonetheless keenly focused, an essential for tuning.... Remarkable, strong texts joined to unexpectedly passionate music."

THE MUSICAL TIMES (UK)
"...Liber unUsualis, three young singers from Boston whose programme centered around secular music by Guillaume de Machaut, which they executed with paradoxically cool panache." - Wilfred Mellers

SOUTH WALES ARGUS-NEWPORT (UK)
"Performed with authority...exciting!"

PHILIP BRISSON, PRESENTER
CATHEDRAL OF THE ASSUMPTION, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
"A wonderful program superbly sung...splendid...seemingly effortless singing and impeccable blend."

J.T. ELLENBERGER, PRESENTER
ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, BOYERTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
"Outstanding in all respects. It was clear to all who attended that these three singers were masters of their art."

PEGGY DETTWILER, PRESENTER/PRESIDENT
AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOC. OF PENNSYLVANIA
"Truly captured the ears of those in attendance! Clarity of tone, absolute intonation, and warm personalities all combined to make a memorable impression. Many in the audience marveled at the high level of musicianship as well as the hardworking scholarship, the marks of true professionals! Liber unUsualis is a rising star!"

MARK T. ENGELHARDT, PRESENTER
THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL, BOSTON
"A truly extraordinary experience . . . style, flair, and spirit that one rarely encounters in ensembles specializing in early music. Clarity of diction, superb intonation, and great attention to detail characterizes everything they sing - all of it just perfect! Besides all this, they enjoy it and that communicates."

BOSTON EARLY MUSIC NEWS
"One of the most striking features of 14th century music to modern ears is the tendency to cadence on a doubled or tripled unison, which seems to pop out of nowhere from the complex counterpoint; this is fiendishly difficult to nail as a singer, and Liber unUsualis did so without exception . . . sopranos Buff and Germond effortlessly weaving an intricate and subtle web around tenor Hudson." (Boston Early Music News)

DR. JANET E. HUNT, PRESENTER
CHURCH OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
"I wanted to let you know how pleased we are with Liber unUsualis' visit and concert this past weekend. Their singing was absolutely beautiful . . . Although most audience members were being exposed for the first time to music from the medieval era, they responded well to the program, which points out how carefully the group planned it."

PROF. DONALD C. MEYER, PRESENTER
LAKE FOREST COLLEGE, ILLINOIS
"They were a hit. An interesting, scholarly program that was extraordinarily accessible and engaging . . . demonstrated exactly what can be so fascinating in medieval music."