It seems, on the face of it, an odd notion to begin a recording bearing this title with the opening plainsong of the Mass for the dead. The disc’s subtitle, ‘Music of the Flemish Renaissance’, is a truer indicator of its aims. It signals Naxos’s desire to introduce a wider public to the greatest possible variety of styles, genres and scorings, both vocal and instrumental, secular and sacred, to be found in early music. Those already converted to the cause may find this eclectic butterflying mildly irritating, but one can hardly fault the intention. Alongside some well-known pieces like El grillo and Isbruck, ich muss dich lassen (the latter very lyrically interpreted) are lesser-known gems such as Busnois’ very short Alleluya: verbum caro (of which this is the first recording, as far as I know), and Ockeghem’s Ma maistresse sung an octave below the usual register, a unique version transmitted in one of the few surviving Flemish sources of the French song-repertory.
At their best (as in the above-mentioned Busnois motet), Capilla Flamenca typify Flemish singing at its richest and most earthy (this last, in the purest sense). The Kyrie of Josquin’s Mass La sol fa re mi makes one hope for more substantial Mass recordings from this ensemble: Naxos please take note! Not all selections are quite on this high level, but that might almost be expected in such a diverse programme.
And, once again, it would be silly to pretend that cost is not an issue: at this price, one can hardly grumble – except when editorial standards are allowed to slip in print and in the studio. The insert-notes and tracking information contain a few clunkers: the date (1430) given for the Chansonnier of Margaret of Austria is out by a good 70 years; and both of Ockeghem’s songs are performed with one of their verses omitted. This sort of solecism still happens more often than one would like, and makes a hash of the pieces’ forms. More to the point, it spoils otherwise fine interpretations (especially that of Ma maistresse). But I said I wouldn’t grumble ...'