Janequin: Le Verger de Musique

Janequin: Le Verger de Musique
A Sei Voci / Ensemble instrumental Labyrinthes - Bernard Fabre-Garrus
Astrée 8571 [CD]
Astrée "trésors du Baroque" 128571 [CD]

Contents:

  1. Il estoit une fillette (4 voices)
  2. Ung gay bergier (4 voices)
  3. Plus ne suys (4 voices)
  4. Le chant des oyseaux (4 voices)
  5. Gervaise: Pavane et Gaillarde (4 recorders, percussion)
  6. Ce tendron si doulce (4 voices)
  7. Martin menoit son pourceau (4 voices)
  8. Suyvez tousjours l'amoureuse enterprise (4 voices)
  9. Puisque mon coeur (4 recorders)
  10. Ung jour que madame (4 voices)
  11. Toutes les nuictz (4 voices)
  12. Fy, fy, metez les hors (4 voices)
  13. Tétin refaict plus blanc (4 voices)
  14. Anon: Martin menoit son pourceau (2 lutes)
  15. Si ung petit de vostre bien (4 voices)
  16. L'amour, la mort, la vie (solo voice)
  17. Gombert: Le chant des oyseaux (3 flutes - arr. d'E. Ferré)
  18. Une nonnain fort belle (4 voices)
  19. J'ai double deuil (2 lutes - arr. d'E. Ferré)
  20. Attaingnant: Tourdion "C'est grand plaisir"
  21. La Guerre - La bataile de Marignan (4 voices)

Performers: Catherine Padaut (soprano), Raoul Le Chenadec (countertenor), Thierry Bréhu (tenor), James Gowings (bass), Bernard Fabre-Garrus (bass), Eugène Ferré, Charles-Edouard Fantin (lutes); Sabine Weill, Armelle Brouard, Pierre Hamon, Nicolas Stroesser (recorders)

Playing time: 49'

Recording date: July 1995

Clément Janequin was of the highest possible influence in modifying the nature of the French chanson heading into the middle 16th century. Along with introducing many lighter themes & motivic devices (such as the onomatopoeia in tracks #4 & #21), the primary contrapuntal disposition was changed to 4-voices with the main line in the highest voice. In some ways, this lightening of idea and texture can be seen as a continuation of the rustic style begun by such composers as Compère & Josquin.

Although Janequin did occupy church positions, his output is overwhelmingly secular: 250 songs, 2 masses, 1 motet have survived. Janequin's chansons survive in quality editions, most originating from Attaingnant in Paris. Altogether, this was known as the Parisian style of chanson and differs from those published in other parts of France at this time.

The present recording contains a nice selection of Janequin's most famous songs, along with some contemporary instrumental arrangements (all but track #5 based on Janequin's material). The relationship between the emerging chanson form and the instrumental & dance forms can be perceived. The recorder arrangements are quite interesting in this sense.

Janequin's most important contemporary in the Parisian style was Claudin de Sermisy (c.1490-1562). A recording featuring both:

Les Cris de Paris
Chansons de Janequin et Sermisy
Ensemble Clément Janequin - Dominique Visse
Harmonia Mundi 901072

Other recordings featuring Janequin's songs:

Janequin: Chansons élégiaques et pittoresques
Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal - Gilbert Patenaude
Analekta "Fleur de Lys" 2 3184
Janequin: Le chant des oyseaulx
Ensemble Clément Janequin - Dominique Visse
Harmonia Mundi 901099
Janequin: La Chasse et autres chansons
Ensemble Clément Janequin - Dominique Visse
Harmonia Mundi 901271
Janequin: XIX Chansons Nouvelles
Attaingnant 1540
Ensemble Polyphonique de France - Charles Ravier
Astrée 7785

A fine recording of Janequin's surviving sacred music:

Janequin: Messes
La Bataille / L'Aveuglé Dieu
Ensemble Clément Janequin - Dominique Visse
Harmonia Mundi 901536

After Janequin, the next French secular composer to project a broader technical significance was Claude Le Jeune (c.1528-1600), who developed new ideas on rhythm. A quality recording devoted to Le Jeune's most important song cycle:

Le Jeune: Le Printans
Huelgas Ensemble - Paul Van Nevel
Sony Vivarte 68259

Finally, surveys featuring broader repertory:

Amour, Amours
Florilège des chansons françaises de la Renaissance
Ensemble Gilles Binchois - Dominique Vellard
Virgin Veritas 45458
French Chansons
Josquin / Jannequin / Sermisy / Lassus
The Scholars of London
Naxos 8.550880
Jouyssance vous donneray
Chansons musicales
Arianna Savall / Il Desiderio
Aeolus 10066

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Todd M. McComb