The recording was made by BBC Radio 3 in St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, and first broadcast on February 5, 1997, the eve of the 500th anniversary of Johannes Ockeghem's death.
Composition History
The motet "Omnium bonorum plena" by Loyset Compère is an intercessory prayer that names and honors celebrated musicians of the day, including Guillaume Dufay, Ockeghem, Busnois, and Tinctoris.
Compositional Technique
Ockeghem's "Missa Prolationum" is based almost entirely on complex double canons, with each of the four voices moving in a different mensuration (rhythmic proportion), yet it is aurally striking for its serene beauty.
Composition History
The motet "In hydraulis" by Antoine Busnois, a contemporary composer, is a musical tribute to Ockeghem and is the only securely datable piece by Busnois, composed between 1465 and 1467.
Historical Context
Johannes Ockeghem, who died on February 6, 1497, was a highly revered and wealthy figure in his time, serving as Treasurer of the Royal Abbey of Saint Martin in Tours and Baron of Châteauneuf.
Recording & Production
This album is part of the "hilliard live" series, which aims to capture the atmosphere and excitement of live concert performances rather than polished studio recordings.
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