Perrine Devillers (soprano), Vivien Simon (tenor), Sophia Danilevskaia (vielle), Christoph Sommer (lute), Anna Danilevskaia (vielle and musical director)
La Contenance Angloise
The Sollazzo Ensemble are an exciting new entrant to the early music scene. Founded in 2014 in Basel, the ensemble brings together musicians with a strong interest in late medieval and early renaissance repertoires. They’re directed by vielle player Anna Danilevskaia. The individual members come from very different musical backgrounds - early music, modern classical music, theatre, and even musicals.
In 2015 they won the York Early Music International Young Artists Prize, as well as being rewarded by the public with the Friends of York Early Music Festival Prize. They then went on to win the Cambridge Early Music Prize. Their first CD Parle qui veut, won a Diapason d’Or, became the Editor’s Choice in Gramophone and Choral & Song Choice in BBC Magazine.
The English Style on the Continent: It’s rare for English music to have any appreciable influence on Continental taste but the early fifteenth century was an exception. The Anglo-Burgundian alliance during the 100 Years War led to close political links, while Duke Philip the Good’s court was also becoming a flourishing centre for arts of all kinds, especially music.
According to a contemporary treatise, ‘there is a new practice of making elegant concord in loud and soft music and Dufay and Binchois have taken of the English manner and followed Dunstable, which has made their song marvellously pleasing, distinguished and delightful.’ The style – frequently described as ‘sweet’ because of its particular harmonies and greater lyricism – was given the name la contenance angloise. Pieces from this tradition form the basis of Sollazzo’s programme.
“This is an exceptional performance; it is full of vitality and enthusiasm, facility and flexibility, and clearly grows out of both deep knowledge and sincere enjoyment of this music. It is an excellent introduction, or addition, to late medieval secular song. The Sollazzo Ensemble is one to keep your eyes and ears on.” Early Music America
“Ces charmants virtuoses respirent le bonheur de jouer et de chanter!” L’Hebdo du Haut-Jura
Programme:
Leuven Chansonnier: Helas l’avoy desservi
Leuven Chansonnier: Tousdit vous voit
Leuven Chansonnier: Escu dennui
Leuven Chansonnier: Henri Phlippet
Gilles Binchois: Triste plaisir
Bayeux Chansonnier: Souvent je m’esbat
Gilles Mureau: Je ne fays plus, je ne dys ne escrips
Pierre Fontaine: Sans faire de vous departie
Guillaume Dufay: Lamentatio Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae Constantinopolitanae
Cyprus Codex: Mon cuer s’en rit de fortune
Cyprus Codex: Parle qui veut
Cyprus Codex: La bonne et belle
Johannes Ockeghem: Dung aultre amer
Loyset Compère: Le grant désir me tient