Get all 13 Blue Heron releases available on Bandcamp and save 15%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Guillaume de Machaut: Remede de Fortune, A 14th-Century Salmagundi, Johannes Ockeghem Complete Songs Vol. 1, Cipriano de Rore: I madrigali a cinque voci, The Lost Music of Canterbury (Boxed Set), Anonymous: Missa sine nomine (Music from the Peterhouse Partbooks, vol. 5), Christmas in Medieval England, Robert Jones: Missa Spes nostra (Music from the Peterhouse Partbooks, vol. 4), and 5 more.
1. |
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Aultre Venus estes sans faille:
Plus que nulle autre creature
De corps, de beaulté, de figure
La semblez et de mesmes taille.
Celuy qui les amours detaille
Peult de vous dire par droicture,
Aultre Venus estes sans faille,
Plus que nulle autre creature.
Qui contredit j’offre bataille
A oultrance et a desmesure,
Maintenant qu’il vous fait injure
Se le tiltre tel ne vous baille.
Aultre Venus estes sans faille …
You are another Venus, without doubt:
more than any other creature
in body, in beauty, in countenance
you resemble her, and are of the same form.
He who tallies loves’ details
may rightly say of you,
You are another Venus, without doubt,
more than any other creature.
To him who denies it I offer battle
to the death and without limit,
maintaining that he does you wrong
if he does not grant you this title.
You are another Venus, without doubt …
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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2. |
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Quant de vous seul je pers la veue,
De qui tant chiere suis tenue,
Mon mal lors si tresfort m’assault
Qu’a peu que le cueur ne me fault,
Tant suis de douleur esperdue.
Pour estre vostre devenue
Plus que nul qui soit soubz la nue
Toute ma joie me default
Quant de vous seul je pers la veue,
De qui tant chiere suis tenue:
Mon mal lors si tresfort m’assault.
Dont je voi bien que je suis nue
De tous biens comme beste mue
A qui de plus riens il ne chault,
Car je scais bien qu’estre me fault
Seulle de tous biens despourveue
Quant de vous seul je pers la veue …
When I lose sight of you alone
by whom I am held so dear,
my pain then assails me so very strongly
that my heart nearly breaks,
so overcome am I by sorrow.
Since I have become yours
more than anyone under the heavens,
all my joy fails me
When I lose sight of you alone
by whom I am held so dear:
my pain then assails me so very strongly.
Then I see well that I am stripped
of all good things, like a dumb beast
to whom nothing matters any longer,
for I know well that I must be
alone, deprived of all good things,
When I lose sight of you alone …
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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3. |
En atendant vostre venue
03:40
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En atendant vostre venue,
Mon bien que je desire tant,
Une heure me dure bien cent
Quant de vous seul je pers la veue.
Bien souvent seullete, esperdue,
Je passe mon temps en pleurant
En atendant vostre venue,
Mon bien que je desire tant.
Mais bon Espoir m’a maintenue
Et de son bon gré m’asseurant
Que je vous reverray briefment,
Qui en joye m’a entretenue.
En atendant vostre venue …
While awaiting your return,
my dear one whom I so desire,
one hour feels like a hundred
when I lose sight of you alone.
Very often, alone, desperate,
I pass my time in weeping
While awaiting your return,
my dear one whom I so desire.
But good Hope has sustained me
through her good will, assuring me
that I will soon see you again,
and so has maintained me in joy.
While awaiting your return …
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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4. |
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Ma maistresse et ma plus grant amye,
De mon desir la mortelle ennemye,
Parfaicte en biens s’onques maiz le fut femme,
Celle seulle de qui court bruit et fame
D’estre sans per: ne vous verray je mye?
Helas, de vous bien plaindre me devroie,
S’il ne vous plaist que brefvement vous voye,
M’amour, par qui d’aultre aymer n’ay puissance.
Car sans vous voir, en quelque part que soye,
Tout ce que voys me desplaist et ennoye,
Ne jusque alors je n’auray souffisance.
Incessammant mon dolent cueur larmye
Doubtant qu’en vous Pitié soit endormye.
Que ja ne soit, ma tant amée dame!
Maiz s’ainsy est, si malheureux me clame
Que plus ne quiers vivre heure ne demye.
Ma maistresse et ma plus grant amye …
My mistress and my greatest friend,
mortal enemy of my desire,
perfect in good qualities, if ever a woman was,
she alone whom repute and fame hold
to be without peer: will I never see you ever?
Alas! I should rightly complain of you
if it does not please you that I see you shortly,
my love, because of whom I am powerless to love another.
For when I do not see you, wherever I might be,
everything I see displeases and vexes me,
nor until I see you will I be satisfied.
Ceaselessly my sorrowing heart weeps,
fearing that in you Pity lies asleep.
May it not be so, my so-beloved lady!
But if so it is, I declare myself so unhappy
that I do not want to live one hour more, nor even one half.
My mistress and my greatest friend …
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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5. |
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Au travail suis que peu de gens croiroient,
On le peult bien qui vieult apercevoir,
Mays c’est pour ce que je ne puis veoir
Ma maistresse ainsi qu’aultres feroient.
Bien envieulx certes aulcuns seroient,
Si par sa grace du bien povoye avoir.
Au travail suis que peu de gens croiroient,
On le peult bien qui vieult apercevoir.
S’il m’avenoit, grant doleur porteroient,
Car veoir mon bien leur feroit recepvoir
Mal si tresgrant que s’il duroyt, pour voir
Je suis tout seur que de dueil creveroient.
Au travail suis …
I am in agony that few would believe—
anyone who wishes to can perceive it clearly—
but it is because I cannot see
my mistress as others may do.
Some would be very envious, certainly,
if by her grace I should have some good.
I am in agony that few would believe—
anyone who wishes to can perceive it clearly.
If I were granted mercy, some would suffer greatly,
for seeing me benefit would cause them
such very great pain that, if it lasted, in truth
I am quite sure they would die of grief.
I am in agony …
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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6. |
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S’elle m’amera je ne scay,
Mais je me mectray en essay
D’acquerir quelque peu sa grace.
Force m’est que pars la je passe,
Ceste fois j’en feray l’essay.
L’autre jour tant je m’avençay
Que presque tout mon cuer lessay
Aller sans que luy demandasse.
S’elle m’amera je ne scay,
Mais je me mectray en essay
D’acquerir quelque peu sa grace.
Puis apres le cop m’en pensay
Que lonc temps a que ne cessay
Ne ne fut que je ne l’amasse.
Mais c’est ung jeu de passe-passe:
J’en suis comme je commençay.
S’elle m’amera je ne scay …
tenor & contratenors
Petite camusecte,
A la mort m’avez mis.
Robin et Marion
S’en vont au bois joly,
Ilz s’en vont bras a bras,
Ilz se sont endormis.
Petite camusecte,
A la mort m’avez mis.
If she will love me I know not,
but I shall put myself to the test
to gain, in some small measure, her favor.
I am forced to go that route:
this time I shall attempt it.
The other day I advanced so far
that I almost let my whole heart
go, without asking anything of her in return.
If she will love me I know not,
but I shall put myself to the test
to gain, in some small measure, her favor.
Then after that try I thought to myself
that for a long time I hadn’t stopped loving her,
nor did I ever not love her.
But it’s a game of sleight-of-hand:
I’m right back where I started!
If she will love me I know not …
(Tenor and countertenor)
Little snub-nose,
you have brought me to death’s door.
Robin and Marion
go off to the green wood,
they go off arm and arm,
they have fallen asleep.
Little snub-nose,
you have brought me to death’s door.
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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7. |
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Mort, tu as navré de ton dart
Le pere de joyeuseté
En desployant ton estandart
Sur Binchois, patron de bonté.
Son corps est plaint et lamenté
Qui gist soubz lame:
Helas, plaise vous en pitié
Prier pour l’ame.
Retorique, se Dieu me gard,
Son serviteur a regretté;
Musicque par piteux regard
A fait deul et noir a porté.
Pleurez, hommes de feaulté,
Qui est sans blame:
Vueillez vostre université
Prier pour l’ame.
En sa jonesse fut soudart
De honnorable mondanité,
Puis a eleu la milleur part,
Servant dieu en humilité.
Tant luy soit en crestienté
Son nom et fame
Qu’i denoment grant voulonté.
Priez pour l’ame.
tenors
Miserere. Pie Jhesu domine, dona ei requiem.
Death, you have wounded with your dart
the father of joyousness
in unfurling your standard
over Binchois, the model of goodness.
His body is mourned and lamented
which lies beneath the tombstone:
Alas, please you for pity’s sake
pray for his soul.
Rhetoric, so God preserve me,
has grieved for her servant;
Music out of piteous regard
has put on mourning and worn black.
Weep, men of fealty,
for him who is without blame:
May your community
pray for his soul.
In his youth he was a soldier
of honorable worldliness.
Then he chose the better part,
serving God in humility.
May his name and fame
be so reputed in Christendom
that there they denote great force of will.
Pray for his soul.
Have mercy. Merciful Lord Jesus, grant him rest.
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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D’un autre amer mon cueur s’abesseroit:
Il ne fault ja penser que je l’estrange
Ne que pour rien de ce propos me change,
Car mon honneur en appetisseroit.
Je l’ayme tant que jamais ne seroit
Possible a moi de consentir l’eschange.
D’un autre amer mon cueur s’abesseroit;
Il ne fault ja penser que je l’estrange.
La mort, par Dieu, avant me desferoit
Qu’en mon vivant j’acoinctasse ung estrange.
Ne cuide nul qu’a cela je me range:
Ma léauté trop fort se mesferoit.
D’un autre amer …
To love another my heart would abase itself:
it is unthinkable that I would spurn him
nor waver from this intent for anything,
for my honor would thus be diminished.
I love him so that it would never be
possible for me to consent to the exchange.
To love another my heart would abase itself;
it is unthinkable that I would spurn him.
Death, by God, would put an end to me before
I should, while living, embrace another.
Let no one imagine that I would stoop to that:
my loyalty would sin too greatly against itself.
To love another …
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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10. |
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Fors seullement l’actente que je meure,
En mon las cueur nul espoir ne demeure,
Car mon malheur si tresfort me tourmente
Qu’il n’est doleur que par vous je ne sente,
Puis que je suis de vous perdre bien seure.
Vostre rigeur follement me court seure
Qu’en ce parti il fault que je m’asseure,
Dont je n’ay bien qui en rien me contente.
Fors seullement l’actente que je meure,
En mon las cueur nul espoir ne demeure,
Car mon malheur si tresfort me tourmente.
Mon desconfort toute seulle je pleure
En mauldisant sur ma foy a toute heure
Ma loyaulté qui tant me fait dolente.
Las! que je suis de vivre mal contente
Quant de par vous n’ay riens qui me sequeure.
Fors seullement l’actente que je meure …
Save only the expectation that I shall die,
no hope remains in my weary heart,
for my misery torments me so very bitterly
that there is no pain I do not feel on your account,
since I am quite sure of losing you.
Your pitilessness attacks me mercilessly,
so that in this situation I must rescue myself,
for I have nothing at all that comforts me.
Save only the expectation that I shall die,
no hope remains in my weary heart,
for my misery torments me so very bitterly.
All alone I weep for my distress,
ever cursing, by my faith,
my loyalty, which makes me suffer so.
Alas! how unhappy I am to remain alive
when from you I receive nothing to succor me.
Save only the expectation that I shall die …
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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11. |
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Fors seullement contre ce qu’ay promys,
Et en tous lieux seray fort entremys
Et acquerray une belle aliance.
J’en ay desir voire dez mon enfance:
Point ne vouldroye avoir nulz anemys.
Mon vouloir j’ay tout en cela soubmis
Et hors de la ja ne ferai transmis,
Garder n’y veul ordre, sens ne prudence.
Fors seullement contre ce qu’ay promys,
Et en tous lieux seray fort entremys
Et acquerray une belle aliance.
Je cuide avoir en terre des amys
Et que en eulx ay ma fiance mis;
On doibt scavoir que n’ay nulle doubtance
Ou aultrement querroye ma desfiance,
Car je sceray de tout honneur remis.
Fors seullement contre ce qu’ay promys …
contratenor
Fors seullement l’actente que je meure …
ave only contrary to that which I have promised,
I shall be deeply engaged on all sides
and shall obtain a fair alliance.
I have desired this ever since childhood:
I would have no enemies whatsoever.
I have entirely submitted my will to this end
and from it shall not be moved,
nor will I respect order, sense, or prudence.
Save only contrary to that which I have promised,
I shall be deeply engaged on all sides
and shall obtain a fair alliance.
I believe I have friends in the land
and in them I have placed my trust;
let it be known that I have no doubts whatsoever,
for otherwise I would pursue my suspicions,
since I would be stripped of all honor.
Save only contrary to that which I have promised …
Contratenor
Save only the expectation that I shall die …
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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12. |
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Se vostre cuer eslongne moy a tort
Et que de vous je n’ay plus [nul] confort
Je prendray lors sur Dieu et sur mon ame
Qu’en ce monde vous ne trouverés ame
Qui mains [que moy] vous voulsist faire tort.
[Je cognoys bien que pour un faulx rapport
Vous arrestez a ce cruel deport,
Mais derechief vous fais serment ma dame:]
Se vostre cuer eslongne moy a tort
Et que de vous je n’ai plus [nul] confort
Je prendray lors sur Dieu et sur mon ame
[Que se Pitié en vostre ame s’endort
Tiendray pour seur que ne soyons d’accort
Et que bien tost perdray celle que j’ame.
Le demourant vous quitte aussi le blasme,
Car evader ne puis a male mort]
Se vostre cuer eslongne moy a tort …
Missing strophes by Fabrice Fitch.
If your heart wrongfully pushes me away
and I receive no more comfort from you,
then I shall swear to God and upon my soul
that in this world you’ll not find another soul
who might wish less than I to do you harm.
I know well that on account of a false report
you insist on this cruel separation,
but once again I take an oath to you, my lady:
If your heart wrongfully pushes me away
and I receive no more comfort from you,
then I shall swear to God and upon my soul.
For if in your soul Pity is asleep,
I will know for sure that we are no longer united
and that soon I will lose her whom I love.
Let others acquit you of blame, too,
for I cannot escape a bad death
If your heart wrongfully pushes me away …
Translation by Scott Metcalfe
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13. |
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"Mulier amicta sole
et luna sub pedibus eius"
Permanent vierge, plus digne que nesune,
Femme couverte du soleil de justice,
Chief couronné par divin artifice
De douze estoiles, supeditant la lune:
Esmerveillant nature et loy commune,
Tu enfantas par supernel office,
Permanent vierge, plus digne que nesune,
Femme couverte du soleil de justice.
Preordonnée sans differance aucune
Du redempteur fille, mere et nourrice,
Soiez pour nous advocate propice,
Toy supplions, tres belle, clere, brune,
Permanent vierge, plus digne que nesune …
tenor i
Pulcra es et decora, filia Jherusalem:
terribilis ut castrorum acies ordinata.
tenor ii
Sancta dei genitrix, virgo semper Maria,
intercede pro nobis ad dominum Jhesum Christum.
"A woman clothed with the sun
and the moon beneath her feet"
Permanent virgin, more worthy than any other,
woman clothed with the sun of justice,
head crowned by divine artifice
with twelve stars, standing above the moon:
Astounding nature and earthly law,
you bore a child by supernal action,
Permanent virgin, more worthy than any other,
woman clothed with the sun of justice.
Preordained without any distinction
the redeemer’s daughter, mother, and nurse,
be a propitious advocate for us,
we beseech you, most lovely, radiant, burnished,
Permanent virgin, more worthy than any other …
tenor i
Fair and comely art thou, O daughter of Jerusalem:
terrible as an army arrayed for battle.
tenor ii
Holy mother of God, ever-virgin Mary,
intercede for us with the lord Jesus Christ.
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Blue Heron Boston, Massachusetts
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
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