Les Fantaisies de Josquin

The debut CD of Ensemble Leones is devoted to one of the greatest composers involved in the initial blossoming of instrumental music: Josquin Desprez (c1450-1521). Although he has earned major accolades for his sacred vocal compositions, this recording is intended as a fitting tribute to his previously neglected secular instrumental works. The pieces have been compiled in 14 musical blocks: in numerous cases, a simple monodic (folk) song provided the model for Josquin’s polyphonic elaboration. This original material performed by a solo singer with a simple accompaniment precedes each of the composer’s contrapuntal arrangements, permitting a sort of “theme with variations”.
As bonus track is presented the new composition “Sei gelobt, du Baum“ by Arvo Pärt. It is written for two instruments – a Baroque violin and a Renaissance gittern – which were made from the wood of a 2000 years old piece of silver fir timber dug up in a vineyard in Switzerland. The composition binds together the old instruments and tonal quality of the early music ensemble with the present day.

Bonus track (world premiere recording)
Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) : Sei gelobt, du Baum (for baritone, gittern, violin & double bass)

Ensemble Leones
(Raitis Grigalis, baritone – Baptiste Romain, violin, vielle – Elizabeth Rumsey, viola d’arco, viola da
gamba – Uri Smilansky, viola d’arco – Kirsty Whatley, harp – Gawain Glenton, cornetto)
Marc Lewon, plectrum lute, Renaissance lute, gittern, Viola d’arco, direction

(balení: digipack)

1	Ile fantazies de Joskin	3:07
2	La plus de plus à 3	1:53
3	(Ohne Satzbezeichnung) à 4	2:15
4	De tous biens plaine (Monodie)	1:31
5	De tous biens à 3	2:09
6	De tous biens à 3	1:11
7	De tous biens plaine à 4	1:13
8	De tous biens à 4	1:19
9	Ach hülff mich leid à 4	7:58
10	La spagna à 3	2:42
11	La spagna à 5	2:47
12	(Ohne Satzbezeichnung) à 4	3:05
13	Fortuna desperata	1:45
14	Fortuna desperata à 3	1:09
15	Fortuna desperata à 4	1:15
16	Une musque de Bisquaye à 4	2:04
17	Une musque de Bisquaye (Monodie)	2:16
18	Je sey bien dire à 4	1:22
19	La bernardina	1:27
20	A l´eure que je vous p.x. à 4	1:07
21	Helas madame à 3	3:41
22	Sy je perdoys mon amy (Monodie)	2:32
23	Si j´ay perdu mon amy à 3	2:17
24	Si j´ay perdu mon amy à 4	0:57
25	L´homme armé (Monodie)	0:36
26	L´homme armé à 4	3:05
27	Cela sans plus à 4	1:25
28	A Dieu, mes amours (Monodie)	0:45
29	Adieu mes amours à 4	2:02
30	Adieu mes amours à 4	4:24
31	Sei gelobt, du Baum	2:55
32	Ile fantazies de Jiskin à 3	2:48