Petrus Alamire – without the curious hyphens of this disc’s title – was the head of a thriving workshop of music- copyists connected with the Netherlands court in the early 16th century, whose productions were recently the subject of an exhibition in Leuven. His beautiful manuscripts were sent to princes, popes and the super-rich throughout Europe, and contained music by the greatest composers of the age.
The works recorded here are a minute sampling of what was produced, in some ways an unrepresentative one: the majority of these manuscripts contained not songs, but sacred music, especially masses. Yet in another way this recit beautifully captures the tone and ambience of the Netherlands court: grave, serious, sometimes cerebral music, but richly and densely involving. Josquin is represented by the songs of his old age, and de la Rue, the star composer of the court chapel, by pieces written for his patron, Margaret of Austria, aunt of Charles V. They are exactly suited to the rich, warm and expressive tone of Capilla Flamenca, which records on Naxos for the first time. The group is complemented here by the instrumental consort La Caccia which provides light relief and occasional accompaniment. This alliance is well judged and satisfying: it is some time since I heard a crumhorn consort in full flood.
Some decisions seem to make light of the music’s potential (Josquin’s Plaine de duel, for example, taken at somewhat too brisk a pace), but on the whole there is much fine music- making to savour: I especially enjoyed countertenor Marnix de Cat’s delivery of de la Rue’s Soubz ce tumbel (a distant precursor of Telemann’s Canary Cantata), a lament on Margaret’s favourite pet. The accompanying notes give an informative account of Alamire’s colourful life, and the value of his enterprise. As to a final recommendation, it would be silly to pretend that cost is irrelevant: this is excellent value for money.'