Machaut: Remede de Fortune / Les Délices & Blue Heron
Details
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut, Jehan de Lescurel
- Artist
- Blue Heron, Les Delices, Debra Nagy
- Format
- CD
- Label
- Blue Heron Renaissance Choir
- Released
- Nov 04, 2022
- Catalog #
- BHCD1012
- UPC
- 645312499663
About
A New Yorker Notable Recording of 2022!
A feast of poetry, song, and visual art animated by a surprisingly Zen-like philosophy, Guillaume de Machaut’s Remede de Fortune tells the tale of a woebegone lover who is counseled by Lady Hope on how to be happy and persevere in the face of the ups and downs dished out by Fortune and her Wheel.
Machaut was at once the greatest poet and composer of 14th-century Europe, and the Remede is a narrative poem or dit, around 4000 lines long, with interpolated lyrics set to music. This live recording of a concert production of the Remede—a collaboration between two outstanding American ensembles, Blue Heron and Les Délices—includes all seven musical items from the Remede as well as a selection of other motets, songs, and dances, which take the place of the narration, express the emotions and thoughts of the Lover, and convey Hope’s teachings in lyric form.
Four singers are joined by a delightful ensemble of medieval instruments (recorder, douçaine, fiddle, lute, harp, hurdy-gurdy, and percussion) in performances which are both spirited and deeply informed by the study of historical performance practices. The album booklet contains complete texts and translations, an interspersed synopsis of the story, and numerous full-color reproductions of the pictures that grace the lavishly illustrated first manuscript copy of the Remede, prepared c. 1350 under Machaut’s supervision.
REVIEW:
What is “Remede de Fortune?” Nothing less than a multi-media work of art – created in 1350. Guillaume de Machaut was one of the greatest poets of his time. And one of the greatest composers. But Remede is more than just a combination of Machaut’s words and music. Machaut personally supervised the creation of an illuminated book.
The early music vocal group Blue Heron staged a live performance of “Remede” with Les Délices. Their performance includes all the music contained in the story. The narration was replaced with motets, songs, and dances of the period. It’s a great performance and one that can be enjoyed on several levels. I first listened to the recording cold. The recording works as a pure listening experience. There’s enough variety between the combination of instruments and voices to hold interest.
Blue Heron is still one of the finest vocal ensembles around, and they didn’t disappoint. The music was sung with pure, clear tones of incredible expressive beauty. Les Délices provided subtle accompaniment, supporting the vocalists without detracting from them. The release comes with the complete text for Remede (and thankfully English translation). It also includes several full-color reproductions of the artwork. So one could, as in Machaut’s time, follow along with the text and art as the music played.
It was an extraordinary work of art, and it’s an extraordinary realization. Highly recommended.
-- WTJU 91.1 FM
Tracklist 18 tracks
-
1 Remede de fortune: Ci commence Remede de Fortune 02:02
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Remede de fortune: Ci commence Remede de Fortune
- Duration
- 02:02
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Performer
- Scott Metcalfe
-
2 Ballade No. 13. Esperance qui masseüre (arr. for voice and fiddle) 05:04
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Ballade No. 13. Esperance qui masseüre (arr. for voice and fiddle)
- Duration
- 05:04
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Performer
- Martin Near, Scott Metcalfe
-
3 Remede de fortune: Qui n'aroit autre deport, lay 11:01
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Remede de fortune: Qui n'aroit autre deport, lay
- Duration
- 11:01
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
4 Motet No. 10. Hareu, hareu, le feu / Helas, ou sera / Obediens usque ad mortem 01:57
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Motet No. 10. Hareu, hareu, le feu / Helas, ou sera / Obediens usque ad mortem
- Duration
- 01:57
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Performer
- Martin Near, Owen McIntosh, Jason McStoots
-
5 Ballade No. 35. Gais et jolis (arr. for recorder, lute and harp) 01:28
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Ballade No. 35. Gais et jolis (arr. for recorder, lute and harp)
- Duration
- 01:28
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
6 Tieus rit au main qui au soir pleure, complainte 08:37
- Track
- 6
- Title
- Tieus rit au main qui au soir pleure, complainte
- Duration
- 08:37
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
7 Joye, plaisance, et douce nourreture, chant roial 06:42
- Track
- 7
- Title
- Joye, plaisance, et douce nourreture, chant roial
- Duration
- 06:42
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
8 Motet No. 8: Qui es promesses de Fortune / Ha Fortune / Et non est qui adjuvet 01:37
- Track
- 8
- Title
- Motet No. 8: Qui es promesses de Fortune / Ha Fortune / Et non est qui adjuvet
- Duration
- 01:37
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
9 En amer a douce vie, balladelle 04:38
- Track
- 9
- Title
- En amer a douce vie, balladelle
- Duration
- 04:38
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
10 Dame, du qui toute ma joie vient, balade 04:56
- Track
- 10
- Title
- Dame, du qui toute ma joie vient, balade
- Duration
- 04:56
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
11 Motet No. 20. Trop plus est bele que Biauté / Biauté parée de valour / Je ne sui mie certeins 02:36
- Track
- 11
- Title
- Motet No. 20. Trop plus est bele que Biauté / Biauté parée de valour / Je ne sui mie certeins
- Duration
- 02:36
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Performer
- Martin Near, Owen McIntosh, Jason McStoots
-
12 Virelai: Dis tans plus (arr. D. Nagy for recorder, lute and harp) 01:14
- Track
- 12
- Title
- Virelai: Dis tans plus (arr. D. Nagy for recorder, lute and harp)
- Duration
- 01:14
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
13 Remede de Fortune: Dame, a vous sans retollir / Dame, a vous sans retollir, virelai (arr. D. Nagy for recorder, lute and harp) 04:02
- Track
- 13
- Title
- Remede de Fortune: Dame, a vous sans retollir / Dame, a vous sans retollir, virelai (arr. D. Nagy for recorder, lute and harp)
- Duration
- 04:02
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Performer
- Jason McStoots
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
14 Messe de Nostre Dame: Kyrie 01:01
- Track
- 14
- Title
- Messe de Nostre Dame: Kyrie
- Duration
- 01:01
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
15 Virelai No. 3. Aymi, dame de valour - Virelai No. 17. Dame, vostre doulz viaire (arr. D. Nagy for chamber ensemble) 03:24
- Track
- 15
- Title
- Virelai No. 3. Aymi, dame de valour - Virelai No. 17. Dame, vostre doulz viaire (arr. D. Nagy for chamber ensemble)
- Duration
- 03:24
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
16 Remede de fortune: Dame, mon cuer en vous remaint, rondelet 04:46
- Track
- 16
- Title
- Remede de fortune: Dame, mon cuer en vous remaint, rondelet
- Duration
- 04:46
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices
-
17 Ballade No. 4. Biauté qui toutes autres pere 05:37
- Track
- 17
- Title
- Ballade No. 4. Biauté qui toutes autres pere
- Duration
- 05:37
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Performer
- Owen McIntosh, Jason McStoots
-
18 Motet No. 20. Trop plus est bele que Biauté / Biauté parée de valour / Je ne sui mie certeins 02:04
- Track
- 18
- Title
- Motet No. 20. Trop plus est bele que Biauté / Biauté parée de valour / Je ne sui mie certeins
- Duration
- 02:04
- Composer
- Guillaume de Machaut
- Ensemble
- Blue Heron, Les Délices