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.
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lyrics
L’autre d’antan, l’autrier passa
Et en passant me transperça
D’ung regart forgié a Millan,
Qui m’a mis en l’arriere ban,
Tant malvais brassin me brassa.
L’autre d’antan, l’autrier passa.
Par tel façon me fricassa
Que de ses gaiges me cassa,
Mais, par Dieu, elle fist son dan.
L’autre d’antan, l’autrier passa,
Et en passant me transperça
D’ung regart forgié a Millan.
Puis apres nostre amour cessa,
Car onques puis qu’elle danssa,
L’autre d’antan, l’autre d’antan,
Je n’eu ne bon jour, ne bon an,
Tant de mal en moy amassa.
L’autre d’antan, l’autrier passa.
The other year, the other day, she passed by
And in passing pierced me through
With a glance forged in Milan
That knocked me into the rear ranks,
So noxious a brew she brewed for me.
The other year, the other day, she passed by.
She made such a fricassee out of me
That she struck me from her payroll;
But, by God, she did her damage.
The other year, the other day, she passed by
And in passing pierced me through
With a glance forged in Milan.
And then our love ended,
For, ever since she did her dance,
The other year, the other year,
I’ve had neither good day nor good year,
So much ill has piled up on me.
The other year, the other day, she passed by.
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 “L’autre d’antan, l’autrier passa”
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 “L’autre d’antan, l’autrier passa”
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