This year, as I’ve noted before, is a Josquin anniversary year. A few days ago I went fishing on YouTube for performances of his music, and I found this from a hometown team: Le studio de musique ancienne de Montréal singing his five-voice setting of Ave verum corpus [score]. This is quiet, contemplative music, and if you’ve got seven minutes to spare I highly recommend it. It’s a sensitive and beautiful performance, gorgeously sung.
February 23, 2021 at 7:51 am
Beautiful — typifies exactly what I love about Josquin!
I’ve often wondered what it would sound like if choral polyphony were transcribed for strings. A composer friend told me that a few 20th century composers had written polyphonic pieces, but I have not seen any attempts at transcription of actual Renaissance works. What would this piece sound like if done by a small string orchestra, for instance? I’ve seen some done for small forces, like quartets and trios, but once instrument per voice doesn’t have the power that a multi-voice choir does.
March 3, 2021 at 1:26 am
It’s an interesting idea! I have also seen some of this music transcribed for small ensembles (like viol consorts), but never for a modern orchestra.
March 15, 2021 at 9:58 pm
I found a transcription for orchestra of a piece by Ockeghem.
March 20, 2021 at 10:07 am
Interesting. The Stokowski arrangement makes it sound like a Baroque adagio.