Dreams in the Pleasure Garden

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Just when you think you know somebody, some uncharacteristic behavior shows itself and you instantly realize that you have more to learn. Such an enlightening occurrence is bound to happen for listeners to this disc accustomed to hearing the "memorable tunes, regular phrasing, and clear harmony" of Machaut's most commonly performed works. Here, the four-member Orlando Consort--alto, two tenors, and baritone--happily and with masterful ease introduce us to the "other" Machaut, one of irregular phrases, lively syncopated rhythms, and long flowing melodies that interact contrapuntally with two or three other vocal lines. The melodic structure often consists of cleverly intertwined strings of suspensions followed by quick resolutions, giving a jumpy impetus to many lengthy passages and entire songs. Among these 14 secular songs are many beautiful poetic texts and some notable melodies, but, interestingly, Machaut didn't attempt to fit music with textual meaning. For us, it remains just to listen--and perhaps to read the words separately--and we are rewarded with some of the 14th century's most sensuous, intriguing, and exotic music. --David Vernier

Tracks:

Chansons: Tant doucement
Chansons: Comment puet on
Chansons: De Fortune
Chansons: Mors sui
Chansons: Se quanque amours
Chansons: Je ne cuit pas
Chansons: Liement me deport
Chansons: Je puis trop bien
Chansons: Certes mon oueil
Chansons: En amer a douce vie
Chansons: He! Dame de valour
Chansons: Une Vipere
Chansons: Ma fin est mon commencement
Chansons: De toutes flours

Amazon.com

Just when you think you know somebody, some uncharacteristic behavior shows itself and you instantly realize that you have more to learn. Such an enlightening occurrence is bound to happen for listeners to this disc accustomed to hearing the "memorable tunes, regular phrasing, and clear harmony" of Machaut's most commonly performed works. Here, the four-member Orlando Consort--alto, two tenors, and baritone--happily and with masterful ease introduce us to the "other" Machaut, one of irregular phrases, lively syncopated rhythms, and long flowing melodies that interact contrapuntally with two or three other vocal lines. The melodic structure often consists of cleverly intertwined strings of suspensions followed by quick resolutions, giving a jumpy impetus to many lengthy passages and entire songs. Among these 14 secular songs are many beautiful poetic texts and some notable melodies, but, interestingly, Machaut didn't attempt to fit music with textual meaning. For us, it remains just to listen--and perhaps to read the words separately--and we are rewarded with some of the 14th century's most sensuous, intriguing, and exotic music. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Interesting music, great singing.......1999-12-20

The music on this CD represents the style of composition prevalent in the mid-14th century, the so called ars nova. This style was notable for "hocketing" (i.e. oscillation between short notes and short rests in the upper voices), and even syncopation, but it also included a technique quite different from the ones just mentioned - the so called isorhythm (i.e. regularly repeating rhythmic and harmonic structures). Machaut was a great master of both of these facets of ars nova, but he was by no means the only one, as was demonstrated by a recent Clerks' recording of music from the Ivrea Codex (and if you ask me, the greatest master of isorhythm was John Dunstable). As the in-house reviewer mentions, the music on this disc is more idiosyncratic, less regular, more syncopated than the typical 14-th century musical output. Breaking the rules while perfecting the style has always been a sign of genius, in any age. The Orlando Consort give this music the recording it deserves (I must commend this group for carving out a niche for themselves despite the fact that the idea of having an all-male quartet sing early music so smacks of the Hilliard that it would seem to be a difficult act to follow). The voices blend exquisitely, combining the beauty of tone with an expert technique - even Robert Jones, whose voice I normally find rather harsh, sounds relatively mellow and seductive in this recording. Charles Daniels is great, as always: his solo piece, Liement me deport, is utterly delightful. gkolomietz@yahoo.com

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Idols of Exile [Import]

Prokofiev: Piano Music, Vol. 4

Ride the Tiger

Montreux Heat [Live]

Aardvark [Import] [Limited Edition]

She Said She Wants Some

Summit: In Concert [Live]

Peace Songs [Import]

Rock 'n' Roll [Import]

Nimbus Prima Voce: The Spirit of Christmas Past

Painted Woman [Import]

No Me Toques Las Palmas Que Me Conozco! [Import]

No Hay Mujer Fea

Double Vision

Year of the Rabbit