The Orlando Consort is formed by a number of English vocalists who in 1988 decided to focus on European vocal music from the period 1000 to 1500. On this CD they perform compositions directly or indirectly related to the time of suffering and Easter. Guillaume Dufay (c.1400-1474) includes the sequence "Victimae paschali laudes" and the hymn "Vexilla regis prodeunt", both probably early works written
… in Italy. The "Lamentationes Jeremiae" by Johannes Tinctoris (c.1435-1511), best known for his music-theoretical works, are an early example of the tradition that later became so popular to arrange these lamentations in polyphony. Loyset Compere (c. 1450-1518) worked in Milan and later at the French court. His "Crux triumphans" is a freely declamatory motet whose text is not liturgical. Jacob Obrecht (1457 / 8-1505), born in Ghent, has worked in all Western European centers, most recently in Italy. His processional motet "Salve crux", a worship of the cross, is a majestic, grand motet. Heinrich Isaac (c. 1450-1517) was born in Flanders and worked at the court of the Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I and in Florence. He is best known for his "Choralis Constantinus", a complete setting of all the changing text of the mist for the entire liturgical year, parts of which are included here. Finally, Josquin des Prez (c.1460-1521), the greatest composer of the Middle Renaissance, is represented on this CD by his four-part setting of the sequence "Victimae paschali laudes" in which, in addition to the Gregorian melody, also two chansons are incorporated. (RB)more