Biscantor! & Maurice Bourbon - Josquin Desprez: Messes - La sol fa re mi; Gaudeamus (2013)

On this recording, conductor Bourbon combines his two early music choirs, Biscantor! and Metamorphoses, to produce a group of 15 singers, eight of which are women. This is, of course, contrary to church practice of the time, which forbade women to sing in liturgical functions (beginning with that jolly old elf, Pope Leo IV), but as is the case with so many early music choral groups nowadays the male and female voices almost produce a unisex blend. In fact, there is only one countertenor, Bruno Le Levreur, a member of Metamorphoses (Biscantor! is comprised entirely of young girls). As Bourbon explains in a whimsical, imaginary interview with Josquin, he did this in order to allow him to bring out many variations. And as Bourbon says in the context of this interview, “You have no idea how much you cost me!...Concert promoters are convinced that your music is boring….You know, this is not really the kind of music that people listen to nowadays. People want music to be amplified and sensational.”

Despite the lack of startling and unexpected harmonic leaps, these two Josquin Masses are wonderfully articulated and styled. Again, the vocal groups manage to avoid the homogenous all-purpose blend that many others produce, which is all to the good. The recorded acoustic is remarkably spacious—it was made at the Church of Javois in Lozère, France. And with what joy this chorus performs! Even the slowest figures manage to sound alive and not perfunctory. The rhythmic liveliness of the Sanctus of the Missa La sol fa re mi must be heard to be believed. Bourbon really does bring this music alive in a wonderful and enlivening manner. In addition, the way Bourbon has rehearsed his singers, they overlap their lines in such a way that the group as a whole sounds as if they never take a breath, which gives the music the feeling of an endless line that begins, spins itself out for four or six minutes, and then stops as of its own volition.

Between the quality of the music, the high quality of the singing and the extraordinary sound, this CD really is mesmerizing. Unless you are dead set against hearing women sing this music, this is easily the recording of choice for these pieces. ~ FANFARE: Lynn René Bayley