Along with Dufay, Binchois has long been considered one of the leading composers of a pivotal musical generation: His reputation has basically maintained since early in the rediscovery of this repertory, yet there're actually rather few dedicated programs. That's in part because Binchois is best known for his chansons, and the 15th century chanson has remained relatively underrecorded relative to sacred works, a genre for which Binchois was part of the "last" group of composers not to write (e.g. cantus firmus) mass cycles. Some of his mass movements are paired, but it's basically a motley collection of individual movements in differing (practical) styles. There're some interesting pieces though — i.e. basically the culmination of the previous generations of writing individual polyphonic mass movements (although e.g. both Ockeghem & Josquin continued to do so too...) — as illustrated by the framing pieces for the present program.
And it's true that I haven't valued these mixed programs (here with chansons, mass movements, motets, instrumental transcriptions, etc.) as highly in the past, but these "portrait" album projects from Baptiste Romain & company do also involve a very high technical level & great experience across the group. In that sense, it's easy to enjoy e.g. the mass movements as another glimpse of Binchois' overall artistry — even as they're also e.g. mixed with outdoor wind music, in a far-ranging program by genre. (And listing a program such as this under the secular heading overall is consequently an easy choice.) Over time, I've come increasingly to enjoy the result: It's a large ensemble in general, but in part to array differently for different stylistic tracks (with e.g. some sacred works or chansons involving different instruments at times, sometimes doubling...), although the result has an overall sort of festive atmosphere (if still more somber than e.g. Dufay).
My strong impression is of course still due in large part to the chansons, many of which are iconic.... But then, although it's probably unsurprising that no one has undertaken a survey of Binchois' sacred music (& not even close...), no one has treated the songs (most of which are rondeaux) systematically either: There are around 50 (although I don't know the latest scholarly discussion on that point...), which isn't the impression one would get from these often repeating programs.... Still, to have a release with this sort of polish (& clearly projected expression of lines, etc.) to go along with the understated but classic Ensemble Gilles Binchois chanson program is very worthwhile. (I'd listed some less detailed interpretations here in the past, seeking variety....)
Something I've also come to appreciate more over the years is the continuity with the more sinewy Ars Subtilior chansons in Binchois' smoother (& more vertical) style, i.e. subtle (syncopated) roiling below a more placidly projected (& often aching) main line: Iconic, indeed, invoking the entire Burgundian period.... And the subtle rhythmic complexity does relate directly to the harmonic complexity (for which thirds were not yet really consonances, meaning the music can still be a challenge to modern ears to hear in this way...), almost "folded up" rhythmically within the overall texture. (One might even suggest that there're frequent implications of musical directions not taken, yet latent for the listener....)
In any case, although I've appreciated the usually more obscure composer portraits from this ensemble, the present release is the most musically satisfying (followed I suppose by that for Tinctoris, himself also with some older recordings...), yet also unsatisfying in the sense that (after all these years) we're obviously in need of a more systematic survey of Binchois.... This feels, once again, almost like an introduction.
Todd M. McComb Updated: 8 July 2025