Sunday 28July at 5 p.m.in the church
Vocal ensemble SCANDICUS
Axelle Bernage : Dessus ; Marc Pontus ; Jean Louis Comoretto : Altus ; Jérémie Couleau ; Olivier Boulicot ; Frederic Terrien : Tenors, Eric Beillevaire : Bass
Program
Serenissime(s)
Little known treasures composed by Adrien Willaert, master of Venetian polyphany.
In 1619, Lodovico Guicciardini evoked those composers who had marked the history of the school of polyphony known as Franco-Flemish. «The Belgians are also the real masters and restorers of this music. It was they who reduced and refined it to its perfection. This province produced Jean Tainturier (Tinctoris), Josquin Des Prez, Obrecht, Ockeghem, Richafort, Adrien Willaert, Jean Mouton, Verdelot...». The Italian chronicler retraced the genealogy of these franco-flemish composers in which Adrien Willaert played rôle, which is scarcely remembered today. Following the example of many of his contemporaries, the young Adrien entered the Papal chapel in Rome, before, in 1515, being appointed cantor at the courts of cardinals Hippolyte I d’Este, Alfonse I d’Este in Ferrare, then Hippolyte II d’Este in Milan. In 1527 he was appointed Choirmaster at the chapel of St Mark’s in Venice, a post which he occupied until the end of his life in 1562. On his death, Willaert left an enormous body of work : seventy madrigals, sixty-five French chansons, three hundred motets, fifty psalms or hymns, nine masses……. the majority of which,unknown today, contributed to the influence of St Mark’s and the Venetian school of polyphony.
The Ensemble Scandicus proposes a new voyage through the works of this great master, interpreting the most beautiful scores for seven voices from his emblematic work, the Musica Nova, published in 1558. The programme will also include polyphonies from his model Josquin Desprez, from his pupil, as well as those works written "in honour of the new Pythagoras", alias Willaert.
Works of Adiran Willaert; Josquin Desprez; Giovanni Gabrieli