Ensemble Gilles Binchois

×

Expand

Image courtesy of L'Auditori.

The French Ensemble Gilles Binchois, founded in 1979 by Dominique Vellard, is one of the leading groups in the field of Renaissance and medieval vocal music ranging from the Notre-Dame school to Franco-Burgundian polyphony.

Next to Guillaume de Machaut’s much more famous Messe de Notre Dame, the anonymous Barcelona Mass, which is estimated to date back to the mid-14th century, is one of the earliest full Mass compositions in European heritage. It is written for three voices and divided into the usual five parts of the Mass: Kirie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei—the last of these written for four voices. We do know, however, that these parts were neither written as, nor originally intended to constitute, a whole, and that they may well have been written by several authors. Despite this, the degree of consistency achieved by them as a whole is truly fascinating.

Program

Barcelona and Apt Masses (14th century)

For more music events check our online events calendar.