Capilla Flamenca, Patrick Denecker - A-La-Mi-Re Manuscript: Flemish Polyphonic Treasures for Charles V (1999)

If you’ve never heard of the Flemish early music vocal group Capilla Flamenca and you’re inclined to listen to music by composers such as Josquin Desprez, Jean Mouton, Pierre de la Rue, Heinrich Isaac, or Adrian Willaert, be reassured: you will love this recording. Naxos has “discovered” yet another world-class ensemble that owns a particular repertoire niche and performs it as well as or better than many “big-name” outfits. These eight singers exhibit exceptionally rich tone, ideal blend and balance, and, thanks to the two fine, rock-solid basses, a purity of intonation that every choral group strives for but few attain. Capilla Flamenca (the name comes from the group of court musicians brought from the Low Countries to Spain by Charles V in 1517) is joined on this recording by La Caccia, whose viols, lute, and various wind instruments are used both to accompany voices on some selections and to perform a handful of purely instrumental pieces. The program consists primarily of both sacred and secular works by the abovementioned composers and a few more obscure names, including “anonymous”. The selections are drawn from the beautifully copied illuminated manuscripts of the great 16th century music calligrapher known as Petrus Alamire. Not only did these collections contain music by the most important polyphonists of the period, but they were highly valued in the courts and noble-houses of Europe as works of high art. And high art is what we get here–a thoughtful and exemplary program in every respect.