Editorial Reviews

In 1468, Margaret of York was wed to Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, in the grand festivities referred to in the title of this stimulating album by the Binchois Consort. Besides bringing together two royal houses in alliance, this marriage provided the opportunity for composers and musicians of the two nations to convene as well. Music, both solemn and joyous, was naturally a major part of the celebrations, and some of it is preserved in a manuscript in which most of the works on this program are found. From Britain comes a mass by Walter Frye and a second mass, of uncertain authorship, that Frye may have composed. From Burgundy, similarly, come two motets of Antoine Busnois and two more that are anonymous in the sources but have in recent years been attributed to him. The Binchois Consort, a group of six male vocalists with several fine recordings already to their credit, do an excellent job of bringing out the contrasts among these pieces -- and their unusual vowel pronunciations suggest they've done some research into linguistic authenticity, too. From the relative austerity of the Missa Sine nomine to the phenomenally rich motet Incomprehensibilia firme, the singers give a splendid sense of the musical plenitude that 15th-century wedding guests may have enjoyed. Scott Paulin, Barnes & Noble

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