"We are very happy to present this collection of completely unknown yet outstanding pieces to the public. We hope that the charm of the Latin Song of Songs text together with the absolutely unique and elaborate musical settings we chose for this program will surprise and captivate you with its eternal beauty." - Agnieszka Budzinska-Bennett, founder and director of Ensemble Peregrina

REVIEW:

This album contains a collection of completely unknown and yet outstanding pieces inspired by the Latin text of the Song of Songs and originating from various regions, England, Silesia, France, and Bavaria.

Agnieszka Budzinska-Bennett once again demonstrates a thorough understanding of this repertoire. The inspired narrative performance is impeccable, and the singing is very expressive throughout, powerfully luminous and richly colored. The voices are perfectly blended with flawless intonation.

Thanks to Tacet’s Real Surround Sound, the sound is once again of the very best quality.

The booklet contains notes and translations of the lyrics in German and English.

-- Pizzicato

Le Miroir De Musique is an ensemble specialized in the music of the late middle ages and Renaissance, from the golden age of the troubadours to the humanist movements of the 16th century. The ensemble is based in Basel (CH) and brings together the most prolific of early music performers, many of whom are graduates of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The image of a "Mirror of Music" is borrowed from Jacques de Li�ge's treatise (Speculum Musicae), and reflects our goal of painting a vivid picture of medieval and Renaissance music, in a spirit of fidelity to the original sources. This project was first conceived for the Festtage Alter Musik in Basel in 2013, at the suggestion of Peter Reidemeister. The program was developed in close collaboration between the five musicians and the musicologist Martin Kirnbauer.

Born in Leuze (Hainaut) around 1430, Johannes Martini was initially active in Konstanz, then in Milan and Ferrara, where he died on 23 October 1497. Closely connected with the d’Este family, he was paid in 1479 for the production of a large volume of vocal music for the ducal chapel of Ferrara. He is also the key contributor to the Casanatense Chansonnier, which was compiled for the marriage of Isabella d’Este to Gianfrancesco II Gonzaga in 1490. Thanks to these collections, we can for the first time present a glimpse of the immense output (motets, psalms, mass movements, chansons, instrumental chansons) of one of the most refined composers of the generation before Josquin’s.