BaL 27.02.21 - Music by Josquin des Prez

[french frank]

Which is why I find Presto's listing, under Despres, rather bizarre!

Entre nous, so do I. I think "Josquin Desprez" as per Grove (or Josquin des Prez, but certainly under J) is correct from an indexer's point of view. We're talking about a couple of centuries when the use of 'surnames' was very fluid. Nowadays, it makes very little sense to exercise the same fluidity. Usage and wont has determined 'Palestrina' and 'Josquin' to be the identifying elements.

[Pulcinella]

A couple of my CDs of his music (which have couplings of motets by Mouton, Obrecht, and Ockeghem) merely say CAPPELLA PRATENSIS (the performers) on the CD spine (as well as the CD number), so would look equally out of place filed under either D or J! In fact, one (since the main work is Josquin's Missa Gaudeamus) is filed under J, but the other (more of a compilation, with the Mouton being the longest piece) is under C (for CAPPELLA) in my compilations section!

[verismissimo]

My only holdings are two LPs from half a century ago: Joshua Rifkin and Jeremy Noble.

Time for something newer?

[ostuni]

Thanks for the reminder of that Jeremy Noble Missa L'Homme Armé Sexti Toni - I bought it in the mid-70s when I was studying that period in detail, and almost wore the LP out.. I’ve just tracked it down on Qobuz (in the Bach Guild 'Big Choral Box' Renaissance Vol 1), and am enjoying revisiting it. I love Noble's speed for that wonderful canonic 3rd Agnus.

[HighlandDougie]

I've just given my new loudspeakers (delivered at lunchtime) a rather refined workout with this newly released recording, courtesy of Tidal:

https://www.stileantico.co.uk/recordings/josquin-des-prez

which I greatly enjoyed. As I know sod all about what is good - and bad - in the performance of renaissance polyphony (other than singing out of tune), others may beg to differ but it seemed pretty OK to me. Pink Floyd to follow later.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There appears to be an error on the Radio 3 webpage. The Josquin de Prez BaL is listed for 27.02.21 and 6.03.21. Unless, of course, the magnitude of this survey necessitates two installments.

[Wolfram]

There appears to be an error on the Radio 3 webpage. The Josquin de Prez BaL is listed for 27.02.21 and 6.03.21. Unless, of course, the magnitude of this survey necessitates two installments.

If that's the case then we will also get two instalments of Bill Mival reviewing the BPO Mahler box.

[DracoM]

Well, AMcGod said it would be Josquin next Sat - 27th - so it MUST be right!!!

[BBMmk2]

Looking foto this one! Well done Alpie, for your Stirling work with this one!

[Pulcinella]

There appears to be an error on the Radio 3 webpage. The Josquin de Prez BaL is listed for 27.02.21 and 6.03.21. Unless, of course, the magnitude of this survey necessitates two installments.

Site now corrected; no doubt you're slaving away at what may well be another gargantuan compilation of recordings for us to consider, even if AMcG and Iain Burnside don't!

Saturday 6 March 2021
9.30am
Building a Library
Iain Burnside joins Andrew to review recordings of Debussy's quirky and technically-demanding Etudes for piano, looking to choose the ultimate release to buy, download or stream

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Site now corrected; no doubt you're slaving away at what may well be another gargantuan compilation of recordings for us to consider, even if AMcG and Iain Burnside don't!

Saturday 6 March 2021
9.30am
Building a Library
Iain Burnside joins Andrew to review recordings of Debussy's quirky and technically-demanding Etudes for piano, looking to choose the ultimate release to buy, download or stream

Thank you. You've saved me the trouble of looking.

[Bryn]

. . . Saturday 6 March 2021
9.30am
Building a Library
Iain Burnside joins Andrew to review recordings of Debussy's quirky and technically-demanding Etudes for piano, looking to choose the ultimate release to buy, download or stream

Uchida. Next question . . .

[DracoM]

Well, AMcGod said it would be Josquin next Sat - 27th - so it MUST be right!!!

Bit exasperating maybe?

EMT giggles away with back of hand thus: 'of course, J de Pr would not have heard women singing his music ...' etc etc.
OK, EMT, so who would he have heard? Boys on top line? Men? Are there many / any versions of cathedral etc constituted ensembles / choirs with boys on top line etc recorded singing major pieces? If so, why did we not hear any? And if none, why none?

All very well arguing about modern day versions / ensembles, BUT if the composer had heard something totally other, AND we might be able to re-construct after a fashion what he would have heard, why didn't we?

[Pulcinella]

I don't think that these general surveys of a composer's works tend to work very well, and today's rather unsatisfying episode proved the point, for me, at least.

As can be seen from Alpie's list, given that there are several recordings of many of the masses (which are likely the first port of call for someone wanting to explore Josquin's music), a programme based on just the masses, with more comparisons of performance styles etc, would have been a better bet, imho.

[Simon Biazeck]

I can barely express how much this BAL upset me and I will have to calm down a bit before I comment fully, if at all.

For the record, there are very few collegiate or cathedral choir offerings in the catalogue, save the occasional appearance of his most popular motet, Ave Maria, Virgo serena. George Guest at St. John's and the Drome under James O'Donnell have made recordings of Missa Pange Lingua. The latter is essential listening and as good as one would expect from WCC.

Back to editing Victoria, Morales, Josquin and others!

SBz