Antoine Brumel
We regret that Antoine Brumel, a composer of considerable stature, is not better represented in this collection. He is one of the four “disciples” mentioned in Josquin’s “Nimphes des bois” lament on Ockeghem’s death . . . the other three being Pierre de la Rue, Compère and Josquin himself. A fairly large number of Brumel’s works have survived including at least 15 settings of the Ordinary of the Mass and about 35 other religious pieces.
He was born around 1460 near Chartres and is first mentioned in 1483 as a singer at the Cathedral there. He moved from one position to another quite frequently; often after a quarrel with the administration. 1486 he was at St Peter’s in Geneva . . . 1497 he was in charge of the choristers at Notre Dame, Paris . . . 1501 he was at Court of Savoy at Chambéry. Finally in 1505 he negotiated a generous contract with Duke Ercole d’Este to succeed Obrecht(who had died of the plague) as ‘maestro di cappella’ at Ferrara. Duke Ercole died later that year, but, the son, Duke Alfonso I honored the contract of 100 ducats salary, travel expenses, a house in Ferrara, and a benefice of 100 ducats in 1506. In 1510 Alfonso came into conflict with Pope Julius II and was even excommunicated. The Chapel at Ferrara was disbanded. It is thought that Brumel died around 1515.
Da pacem Domine
Antoine Brumel "Da pacem Domine"
Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris:
quia non est alius qui pugnet pro nobis,
nisi tu Deus noster.
Give peace in these our days, O Lord:
for there is none other to protect us,
but only Thou, our God.
Mater Patris et filia
A Marian antiphon motet for three male voices . . . alternating points of imitation . . . then homorhythm . . . and a short triple meter section to close. Brumel’s melodic dynamism shines forth. The motet can be found in ‘A. Brumel: Opera Omnia’ edited by Barton Hudson . . . this performance is based on an Annie Bank edition from the 1950s.
Antoine Brumel "Mater Patris et filia"
Text:
Mater Patris et filia,
mulierum laetitia,
stella maris eximia,
audi nostra suspiria,
Regina poli curiae,
Mater misericordiae
in hac valle miseriae,
Maria propter Filium,
confer nobis remedium.
Bone Jesu, Fili Dei,
nostras preces exaudi.
Et precibus nostris
dona nobis remedium. Amen
Translation:
Mother and daughter of the Father,
joy of women,
bright star of the sea,
hear our prayers,
O Queen of the heavenly court,
Mother of mercy,
in this valley of sorrow;
for the sake of your Son, O Mary,
give us aid.
O Jesus, Son of God,
hear our prayers.
And through our prayers
grant us salvation. Amen.
Missa Descendi in hortum – Kyrie
Antoine Brumel 'M. Descendi in hortum' (Kyrie)
Text:
Kyrie eleison
Missa Descendi in hortum – Gloria
Antoine Brumel 'M. Descendi in hortum' (Gloria)
Text:
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Translation:
Glory to God in the highest
Noe, noe, noe
This motet occurs with two sets of words in different sources . . . one of them is an excerpt from Psalm 24 beginning “Bonus et rectus Dominus” . . . the other “Noe, noe, noe” but lacking further text, which makes it fair game as an instrumental piece for Christmas . . . with shawms and sackbutt, and full of cascading imitation.
Antoine Brumel "Noe, noe, noe"
Tous les regretz
In 1503 Philip the Fair, Duke of Burgundy, dropped by the Court of Savoy in Bourg to visit his sister, Marguerite, Duchess of Savoy, on his way back from Spain. At that time Brumel was in the Savoy Ducal Chapel and Pierre de La Rue a leader in the Burgundian Chapel. It must have been a great reunion for these two “disciples” of Johannes Ockeghem as two of the finest musical organizations in Europe joined forces to sing High Easter Mass. The following year the Duke of Savoy died and Marguerite went back to Flanders. Among her “effects” was probably the manuscript, now in the Royal Library, Brussels, containing this chanson by Antoine Brumel. Martin Picker edited and transcribed this and and the other chansons contained in Marguerite’s manuscripts in his fine collection ‘The Chanson Albums of Marguerite of Austria’.
Antoine Brumel "Tous les regretz"
Text:
Tous les regretz qu’oncques furent au monde,
Venez a moy, quelque part que je soye.
Prenes mon coeur en sa doleur par fonde.
Et le fendes que ma dame le voye.
Translation:
All the regrets that have been in the world
Seek me out, wherever I am.
Take my heart in its deep sorrow,
And break it, so my lady will see it.