Ossuaires: Office for Elizabeth of Hungary by Pierre de Cambrai (13th century) / Graindelavoix

• Album Summary
• Notes & Reviews
• Also Purchased
• Works Details

Album Summary

Conductor

• Schmelzer, Bjorn

Ensembles

• 
• Graindelavoix

Composer

• Cambrai Chant (died 1492)

Notes & Reviews:

The first in a trilogy of recordings exploring religious, social and political discourses around 13th century music sees Björn Schmelzer and Graindelavoix set off on a journey across Europe, reflecting on the medieval working world of the artist Villard de Honnecourt who was responsible for a collection (still in existence) of drawings made in connection with the new Gothic cathedrals then being built. The travels of Villard took him from Cambrai to Vaucelles and Reims, and then across Germany, Switzerland and Hungary and in this first volume, Ossuaires (ossuaries being receptacles for holy relics), the lines of this journey unite medieval Northern France and Hungary: musical treasures performed here concentrate on an Office for Saint Elizabeth by Pierre de Cambrai and Volek syrolm thudothlon (an example of an early Hungarian poem being set to music from France). The characteristic and imaginative approach of Björn Schmelzer, along with his Graindelavoix singers, stands back from preconceived notions of how such medieval music may have been sung, and aligns itself instead more with the working practices of artists such as Villard de Honnecourt (examples of the draughtsman's work are included in the CD booklet), medieval and modern artists embellishing and improvising, combining and recycling their materials from a practical perspective.

Early Music Review, December 2012
There are so many ways this disc is original. Start with the sound. I've never heard chant like this. It has a solidity that most plainsong lacks ... Behind it is a panoply of ideas ... I'm happy to listen to it with an innocent ear and enjoy a magnificent and original sound.

American Record Guide, March / April 2013
I highly recommend the sensitive performance of the entire Cambrai office for St Elizabeth of Hungary by the Schola Hungarica. That earlier recording also includes the short motet attributed to Pierre de Cambrai, 'Un chant renoisie Decantatur' in a much better performance. The final work on the new release is a version of the Old-Hungarian Lament of the Virgin Mary, a 13th Century translation and adaptation of the Latin song, 'Planctus ante nescia'.

Notes & Reviews:

Recording information: Braine-l'Allaud, France (07/2010-08/2010).

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Also Purchased

Works Details

Chant, Cambrai : Gaudeat Hungaria, jubilet Thuringia!, antiphon (from the Office of St. Elisabeth "Gaudeat Hungaria")

• Conductor: Björn Schmelzer
• Ensemble: Graindelavoix
• Running Time: 3 min. 56 sec.
• Period Time: Medieval
• Written: after 1250

Chant, Cambrai : Sub Conrado Dei viro, responsory (from the Office for Elizabeth of Hungary)

• Conductor: Björn Schmelzer
• Running Time: 11 min. 18 sec.
• Period Time: Medieval

Chant, Cambrai : Ante Dies exitus, responsory (from the Office for Elizabeth of Hungary)

• Conductor: Björn Schmelzer
• Running Time: 15 min. 18 sec.
• Period Time: Medieval

Chant, Cambrai : Cui nec apex, responsory (from the Office for Elizabeth of Hungary)

• Conductor: Björn Schmelzer
• Running Time: 13 min. 16 sec.
• Period Time: Medieval

Chant, Cambrai : Tante signa glorie, responsory (from the Office for Elizabeth of Hungary)

• Conductor: Björn Schmelzer
• Running Time: 12 min. 37 sec.
• Period Time: Medieval

Chant, Cambrai : Un chant renvoisie / Decantatur, motet (from the Office for Elizabeth of Hungary)

• Conductor: Björn Schmelzer
• Running Time: 1 min. 36 sec.
• Period Time: Medieval

Chant, Cambrai : Volek syrolm thundothlon (from the Office for Elizabeth of Hungary)

• Conductor: Björn Schmelzer
• Running Time: 6 min. 10 sec.
• Period Time: Medieval