Customer Reviews

Le Manuscrit Du Puy - Les Premieres Polyphonies Francaises

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This is a wonderful and enligthening CD. The excellent French group Ensemble Gilles Binchois explore a very important moment in European music history: the emergence of polyphony. The so-called Ars Nova marks a radical departure from the monody of the gregorian chant. Arguably, polyphony is the cornerstone of European music. Even modern composers such as Nono, Berio and Boulez continue to be deeply influenced by the Ars Nova.
This record provides early examples of polyphony in France, showing examples of the transition to the monody to one, two and then many simultaneous voices. Dominique Vellard, conductor of the ensemble, is a scholar-performer in medieval music, and works at the Center for Medieval Music in Paris. The performance and recordings are first-rate. If you care about medieval music, this record is a must-have.

Ensemble organum is one of my favourites enesmbles for this type of music - the sound is trully distinctive. I have since gone on to buy many of their chant cds.
The comment below is spot on - I have 3 of Ensemble Giles Binchois, all of which I love. It does happen though that I also love the eastern sound of Ensembe Organum!