Eustache du Caurroy is one of the unacknowledged masters of
French Renaissaice polyphony whose works are rarely performed,
due in part to the general lack of accessible or reliable
editions. The majority of his compositions were for liturgical
use - probably at the French Royal Court during the reigns of
the successive monarchs Charles IX, Henri III and Henri IV.
The motets recorded here illustrate two contrasting styles of
vocal writing: imitative polyphony and 'musique mesurée',
the former equating to the familiar, pan-European idiom of
Palestrina and his later Renaissance contemporaries, the latter
outlining protracted chord-against chord movement reflecting the
natural stress-patterns of the words. The Missa pro Defunctis, the
major work on this disc, was first performed at the funeral of
Henri IV and remained for many years the official requiem sung
at funerals of French monarchs.
Recorded in the Abbaye de Valloires,
Somme, France 18-20 September 1996 and
originally released on Collins Classics 14972
Playing time : 66'47" DDD
Reviews
"This is music of very high quality, and on that alone Edward Higginbottom’s initiative in du Caurroy’s favour is most welcome. Just as importantly, he leads the New College choristers in a correspondingly fine performance...a distinctive recording indeed."
The Gramophone · Editor’s Choice
