Josquin: Adieu mes amours

Dulces Exuviae is the duo of baritone Romain Bockler and lutenist Bor Zuljan, and this album of music by the Renaissance great Josquin Desprez is their debut. The duo performs a selection of Josquin's chansons, which are more commonly performed by a vocal ensemble, in arrangements that allow the beauty of both the melody and the voice to shine through.

Featuring

Romain Bockler
Bor Zuljan
Dulces Exuviae
Josquin des Prez
Luis de Narváez
Marco Dall'Aquila

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Critical Reception

Josquin Desprez's name guaranteed high sales, leading printers to attribute works to him even decades after his death, regardless of veracity.

Historical Context

The late 15th century marked a turning point in Western music, as musicians were sought not just for their performance skills but for their ability to create new works, leading to the coining of the term 'composer'.

Composition History

The famous chanson "Mille Regretz" was not attributed to Josquin Desprez until 17 years after his death, having been first published under the name 'J. Lemaire'.

Cultural Impact

The rise of musical printing in the early 16th century greatly amplified Josquin Desprez's fame, accelerating the circulation of his works.

Interpretation

This recording presents a different approach to Josquin Desprez's music, focusing on melodic inspiration by performing polyphonic works with a single voice accompanied by a lute, a practice documented in his time.

Composer Biography

Josquin Desprez, a highly admired composer, demanded wages almost double those of his renowned contemporary Henrich Isaac, with whom he competed for a position in Ferrara.

Instruments

The album features the first commercial recording of a 'bray lute', a prototype instrument designed to replicate a 'harp-like sound' based on 16th-century descriptions.