This was an Anniversary release, although already from late 2020, rather than 2021. And the ensemble has been featured in other repertory here (especially e.g. Dufay), so in that sense, this is not a departure.... (And I do tend to appreciate interpretations of this repertory from groups who are established with earlier 15th century music.)
However, the mixed program & variety of instrumental tracks, particularly in an album I'm nominally including for its motets, does present something of a departure. Indeed, I wasn't that thrilled with the program when it appeared: In particular, the secular tracks didn't really "need" new recordings, and the long Vultum tuum cycle isn't among my favorite Josquin pieces. (I tend to believe that musicians like to record the latter because it's relatively straightforward. It's as generic as any music by Josquin, but of course pleasant....) And then there's the big sound, where I often prefer more intimate readings... but then, as noted, I've appreciated big sound by this (& other) group(s) at times too.
There's also some intimacy here though, even if always in a big acoustic, as some of the best tracks involve one-to-a-part singing with no instrumental doubling.... Others use larger forces, or e.g. a horn carrying the tenor amid the voices (in a style I that don't especially appreciate...). But there's simply a strong feel for the music, a strong projection of "Josquin" (if in Italianate form...) across multiple forces, making for a consistently enjoyable presentation. It suggests a strange mix of pomp & intimacy, I guess. (And "strange mix" does come to describe some of Josquin's best music....)
Then some of the motet tracks are of particular value (e.g. Benedicta es...), making for a program that I've decided to list here, even as around half of it is of more limited interest.... I guess I've ultimately found the overall sound to be compelling, even as I don't feel as though the approaches here are especially new. Still, some of the tracks are dazzling, with my reaction to the interpretation of the title piece e.g. being torn between its lack of intimacy & its powerful projection.
And it's hard to know what's next for impressions of a program like this, as others (i.e. with more "great" pieces) might appear.... For now, various qualifications aside, it's easy to enjoy directly & also to appreciate in context.
Todd M. McComb Updated: 27 January 2022