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Fortune Infortune - A Portrait of Margaret of Austria / Elgersma, Seldom Sene
Brilliant Classics

Fortune Infortune - A Portrait of Margaret of Austria / Elgersma, Seldom Sene

Renaissance Spiritual Virtuosic Serene Uplifting
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Details

Composer
Benedictus Appenzeller, Loyset Compere, Josquin Desprez, Jean Richafort, Pierre de la Rue, Johannes
Artist
Seldom Sene, Daniel Elgersma
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Oct 27, 2023
Catalog #
BRI96513
UPC
5028421965130

About

The Amsterdam-based recorder quintet has done it again: an original concept, featuring several first recordings, and superb performances which confirm them among the top-tier of today’s early-music chamber ensembles. The present album arises from a concert devised in 2018 for a festival in Bruges celebrating notable female figures from history.

Seldom Sene chose to focus on Margaret of Austria (1480–1530), who was governor of the Habsburg Netherlands for almost 20 years. Margaret had grown up with the benefits of a first-class education afforded to very few of her female peers: she was adept in all the humanities, and her library of books was reckoned one of the most extensive and learned at the time, a fit place to welcome distinguished guests such as Albrecht Dürer. From around 1515, one of the volumes in Margaret’s library was her newly commissioned personal songbook: a collection of 55 chansons and motets, richly decorated with high-quality miniatures and initials.

Many of the song texts speak of loss, sorrow and loneliness, perhaps reflecting her status at the time as a noble widow, following the death of her second husband, Philibert II of Savoy, in 1504. Margaret herself seems to have written several of them, and may also have been involved in their musical setting. Marian devotion is another theme of the songbook reflected in this selection made and transcribed and recorded by Seldom Sene. Sacred hymns are balanced out by secular laments, but also lighter and more cheerful numbers such as ‘Brunette m’amiette‘ and ‘La jonne dame’. Many of the composers are now lost to us and effectively anonymous, but the names that survive are worthy of Margaret’s elevated status, including Josquin and Pierre de la Rue.

‘Like Margaret,’ concludes María Martínez Ayerza in her booklet note, ‘like her courtiers and visitors, we see and hear the music and texts in this songbook and we are moved, stirred. These artworks make us change, as we relate the texts, even the titles, and the rather abstract beauty of the music to ourselves.’ Ayerza and her colleagues in Seldom Sene bring this music and Margaret’s world back to life with intense sympathy. The album is sure to receive the glowing reviews accorded to the group’s discography on Brilliant Classics. ‘Commitment, technical versatility, unanimity of ensemble and near-immaculate tuning on display.’ (Gramophone) ‘An excellent release from an ensemble I hope we’ll hear a lot more from in the future.’ (Fanfare)

Tracklist 22 tracks

  1. 1 Maria, mater gratie - Fors seulement [a5, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet) 03:28
    Track
    1
    Title
    Maria, mater gratie - Fors seulement [a5, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet)
    Duration
    03:28
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Daniel Elgersma
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  2. 2 Fors seullement [a5, Musiksammlung, MS Mus 18746, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 02:58
    Track
    2
    Title
    Fors seullement [a5, Musiksammlung, MS Mus 18746, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  3. 3 Plaine de duel et de melancolie (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet) 06:15
    Track
    3
    Title
    Plaine de duel et de melancolie (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet)
    Duration
    06:15
    Composer
    Josquin des Prez
    Performer
    Daniel Elgersma
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  4. 4 Plusieurs regretz a 5 (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 03:32
    Track
    4
    Title
    Plusieurs regretz a 5 (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Josquin des Prez
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  5. 5 Se je souspire - Ecce iterum [a3, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet) 06:02
    Track
    5
    Title
    Se je souspire - Ecce iterum [a3, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet)
    Duration
    06:02
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Daniel Elgersma
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  6. 6 Consideres mes incessantes … - Fortuna desperata [a5, Musiksammlung, MS Mus 18746, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 02:45
    Track
    6
    Title
    Consideres mes incessantes … - Fortuna desperata [a5, Musiksammlung, MS Mus 18746, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  7. 7 Je me complains a 5 (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 01:29
    Track
    7
    Title
    Je me complains a 5 (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Josquin des Prez
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  8. 8 Je ne dis mot [a6, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet) 01:42
    Track
    8
    Title
    Je ne dis mot [a6, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet)
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Daniel Elgersma
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  9. 9 Quand il advient choses [a5, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 01:24
    Track
    9
    Title
    Quand il advient choses [a5, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  10. 10 Brunette (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 02:50
    Track
    10
    Title
    Brunette (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Johannes de Stokem
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  11. 11 La jonne dame (va au moulin) [a5, Musiksammlung, MS Mus 18746, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 01:29
    Track
    11
    Title
    La jonne dame (va au moulin) [a5, Musiksammlung, MS Mus 18746, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  12. 12 Changier ne veulx, c'est mon plaisir [a4, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet) 05:57
    Track
    12
    Title
    Changier ne veulx, c'est mon plaisir [a4, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet)
    Duration
    05:57
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Daniel Elgersma
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  13. 13 Ne vous chaille, mon cueur (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet) 02:17
    Track
    13
    Title
    Ne vous chaille, mon cueur (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet)
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Jean Richafort
    Performer
    Daniel Elgersma
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  14. 14 Douleur me bat (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 03:37
    Track
    14
    Title
    Douleur me bat (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    03:37
    Composer
    Josquin des Prez
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  15. 15 Va t'en, regret, celuy qui me convoye (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet) 03:47
    Track
    15
    Title
    Va t'en, regret, celuy qui me convoye (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet)
    Duration
    03:47
    Composer
    Loyset Compère
    Performer
    Daniel Elgersma
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  16. 16 Je my levay un matin (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 02:09
    Track
    16
    Title
    Je my levay un matin (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Benedictus Appenzeller
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  17. 17 Qui vult aymer il fault estre joieux [a5, Musiksammlung, MS Mus 18746, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 01:44
    Track
    17
    Title
    Qui vult aymer il fault estre joieux [a5, Musiksammlung, MS Mus 18746, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  18. 18 Ne vous chaille mon cueur [a3, Musiksammlung, MS Mus 11239, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 02:09
    Track
    18
    Title
    Ne vous chaille mon cueur [a3, Musiksammlung, MS Mus 11239, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna, Austria, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  19. 19 Dueil et ennuy [a5, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet) 02:59
    Track
    19
    Title
    Dueil et ennuy [a5, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet)
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Daniel Elgersma
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  20. 20 Tous nobles cueurs [a3, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet) 02:19
    Track
    20
    Title
    Tous nobles cueurs [a3, Songbook of Margaret of Austria, MS 228, Bibliothéque Royale de Belgique, Brussels, 16th century] (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for recorder quintet)
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  21. 21 Cueurs desolez / Dies illa (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet) 08:41
    Track
    21
    Title
    Cueurs desolez / Dies illa (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet)
    Duration
    08:41
    Composer
    Pierre de La Rue
    Performer
    Daniel Elgersma
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene
  22. 22 Petite camusette (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet) 01:05
    Track
    22
    Title
    Petite camusette (arr. M. Martínez Ayerza for voice and recorder quintet)
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Josquin des Prez
    Performer
    Daniel Elgersma
    Ensemble
    Seldom Sene