‘Blessid Inglonde, ful of melody’

Sigismund of Luxembourg, King of the Romans’ and later Holy Roman Emperor, is said to have praised the music of England as being ‘of Angel nature’. This programme offers a survey of English polyphony covering a century in which its reputation and influence grew to a point never again reached. This is the age of Agincourt, of the Great Schism in the Papacy and of Council of Constance, when English cultural and political power were complementary. Much of the music, due to the foibles of historical survival, is anonymous and is thus rarely heard; some can be attributed to the greatest composers of the age, such as John Dunstable, Walter Frye and Leonel Power. We also include works from continental composers inspired by their English counterparts, including the great Josquin Des Prez.

Programme to include:

Gloria Pycard (fl. c1410)
Britsh Library, Add. MS 57950 (‘Old Hall’), fol. 22′-23

Salve regina Anon, mid. c14th
University Library, Princeton, MS 103

Jhesu redemptor/Jhesu redemptor/Jhesu labentes Anon, early c14th
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, MS 47-1980, fol. 2

So ys emprentid Walter Frye (d. before 1475)
Beinecke Library, Yale University, New Haven MS 91 (‘Mellon Chansonnier’), fol. 61’-63

Kyrie from Missa Soyes emprentid Guillaume Le Rouge (fl. 1450-65)
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vatican City, MS S.Pietro B.80. fol. 71-72

Agnus Dei Anon, mid. C15th
Seminario Maggiore, Aosta, Cod. 15 (‘Aosta Manuscript’), f. 216’-217

Quam pulchra es John Pyamour (fl. 1418)
Biblioteca Estense, Modena, (‘Mod. B’), fol. 95’-96

Agnus Dei ‘Bloym’ (fl. 1430-60)
Museo Proviciale d’Arte, Castello del Buonconsiglio, Trent, MS 1379 [92] (‘Trent 92’), fol. 222-223

Tout a par moy Walter Frye
Beinecke Library, Yale University, New Haven MS 91 (‘Mellon Chansonnier’), fol. 45’-46

Missa Faisant regretz: Agnus Dei III Josquin Des Prez (c1455-1521)
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Cod. 4809 Han, fol. 107’-108

Credo ‘Omni tempore’ Anon (c1400)
Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich, fol. 159′ & 162