A MARRIAGE OF ENGLAND AND BURGUNDY

 

The Binchois Consort

Fergus Mclusky, Robin Tyson alto, James Gilchrist, Christopher Watson tenor

Damian O'keeffe baritone, Rob Macdonald bass

Andrew Kirkman conductor 

 

Anonymous (Walter Frye (d1474)?)

Missa Sine nomine

Kyrie  

Gloria

Credo

Sanctus

Agnus Dei

 

Antoine Busnois (c1430-1492)

Regina coeli I

Regina coeli II

 

Walter Frye

Missa Summe trinitati

Conditor Kyrie

Gloria

Credo

Sanctus

Agnus Dei

 

Anonymous (Busnois?)

O pulcherrima mulierum/Girum coeli circuivi

Incomprehensibilia firme/Praeter rerum ordinem

 

The celebrations surrounding the marriage in 1468 of Margaret of York, sister of Edward IV of England, and Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, constituted one of the undisputed pinnacles in the history of the Court of Burgundy. To judge from the extent and enthusiasm of surviving testimony, outstripping those of any similar 15th-century state occasion, this was the marriage of the century. It was also an opportunity for display on a grand scale with numerous musical events and celebrations.

 

Although we don't know exactly what was performed, there is a manuscript - the 'Burgundian Court manuscript' - whose contents may well have been performed at ceremonies associated with the wedding. Some of the music from this manuscript, such as that by Antoine Busnois (an employee of the Court of Charles the Bold) is performed on this disc.

 

Recorded in St Andrew's Church, Toddington, Gloucestershire, on 10-12 August 1999 and 12 January 2000

 

Hyperion CDA67129