Les Messes retrouvées de Jehan Titelouze, Vol. 2

Featuring

Thomas Van Essen
Volny Hostiou
François Ménissier
Ensemble Les Meslanges
Jehan Titelouze
Jean de Bournonville

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Composer Biography

Jehan Titelouze served as the organist for Notre-Dame Cathedral in Rouen for nearly half a century, from 1588 until his death in 1633.

Compositional Technique

Jehan Titelouze's organ works, considered foundational to the French organ school, employ the 'alternatim' principle, alternating organ verses with sung verses.

Composition History

The four polyphonic masses by Jehan Titelouze, including those on this album, were recently discovered by Laurent Guillo after being presumed lost for centuries.

Interpretation

The ensemble Les Meslanges chose to enhance the Missa Votiva and Missa Simplici corde with instruments, such as serpent, cornets, sackbuts, and viols, by doubling or substituting voices.

Composer Biography

Jehan Titelouze, the composer, was born around 1563 in Saint-Omer, which was then part of the Spanish Netherlands.

Historical Context

Rouen, where Jehan Titelouze worked, was a significant Catholic stronghold during the religious conflicts of the late 16th century in France.

Instruments

The organ used for this recording, built in 2008-2010 by Dominique Thomas, is designed to evoke the Franco-Flemish aesthetic of the early 17th century, similar to the organ Titelouze played in Rouen.