Johannes Ockeghem (c. 1420-1497) was one of the most celebrated musicians of the fifteenth century and one of the greatest composers of all time. He was every bit the equal of J.S. Bach in contrapuntal technique and profound expressivity, and like Bach able to combine the most rigorous intellectual structure with a beguiling sensuality. His two
dozen songs set French lyric poetry in the courtly forms of his era—rondeau, virelai, and ballade—to exquisitely crafted polyphony in which all voices are granted equally beautiful and compelling melodies.
This CD is the companion to Blue Heron’s 2019 release, Johannes Ockeghem: Complete Songs, Volume 1, which was named to the Bestenliste of the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik and acclaimed in Gramophone for “performances of absolute clarity, beautifully in tune, beautifully balanced and beautifully recorded”; Early Music enthused that “the Boston-based ensemble is at its finest—a summit quite sublime.… The group’s extraordinary rapport with the music is evident everywhere in the recording; each melodic line is not only clear and precise but also imbued with obvious affection.”
Besides twelve of Ockeghem’s songs, the disc includes two related works (Gilles Binchois’s Pour prison, quoted by Ockeghem in his song La despourveue, and Johannes Cornago’s Qu’es mi vida, arranged by Ockeghem) and an anoymous instrumental arrangement of Ockeghem’s Je n’ay dueil. The CD booklet contains complete texts and translations, and notes by music historian Sean Gallagher and Blue Heron’s artistic director, Scott Metcalfe.
Includes unlimited streaming of Johannes Ockeghem: Complete Songs, Volume 2
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
...more
ships out within 5 days
$20USDor more
lyrics
Pour prison ne pour maladie,
Ne pour chose que l’on me die
Ne vous peut mon cuer oubliier,
Et sy ne puis ailleurs penser,
Tant ay de vous veoir envie.
M’amour, ma princesse et amie,
Vous seule me tenez en vie,
Et ne peult mon desir cesser
Pour prison ne pour maladie,
Ne pour chose que on me die,
Ne vous peut mon cuer oubliier.
Ne doubtés ja que vous oublie,
Qu’onques nulle tant asouvie
Ne fust qui me peult faire amer
Que vous, belle et douce sans per,
Dont Amours point ne me deslie.
Not for prison, nor for illness,
nor for anything one might tell me
can my heart forget you,
and thus I cannot think of anything else,
so much do I long to see you.
My love, my princess and friend,
you alone keep me alive,
and my desire cannot cease
for prison, nor for illness,
nor for anything one might tell me
can my heart forget you.
Never suspect that I forget you,
for never did anything come to pass
that could make me love anyone
but you, fair lady, and sweet without peer,
from whom Love shall never unbind me.
Winner of the 2018 Gramophone Classical Music Award for Early Music (the first non-European group to win the award), Blue
Heron (Scott Metcalfe, dir.) has been acclaimed by The Boston Globe as “one of the Boston music community’s indispensables” and hailed by Alex Ross in The New Yorker for the “expressive intensity” of its interpretations....more
supported by 4 fans who also own “Binchois Pour prison ne pour maladie”
Another brilliant suite of compositions from Sam! Many beautiful moments throughout the record, such as Sam and Henry's unison playing with arco bass and Nazary's distinctive brainy drum solo on the last track. Proof that for those who love intervals and triplets there is ample music yet to manifest ... Nicholas Serrambana
“Scatter My Ashes” exists at a crossroads between multiple styles, but emerges with something rich, textural, ambient, and riveting. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 7, 2022
On "The Source," composer Ted Hearne uses bureaucratic language and poetic chat transcripts to create an electronic opera that honors its subject matter. Bandcamp Album of the Day Dec 13, 2016
supported by 4 fans who also own “Binchois Pour prison ne pour maladie”
A very interesting album. At a few places I keep asking myself: Was this composed by Arnold Schönberg (or his disciples)? Anyway, I'm all for skilled musicians exploring the boundary (if one exists) between jazz and classical. Thumbs up! jyrki63