I posted an overview recently in this blog on Machaut’s Messe de Nostre Dame – but this recording/work reflects, comments, refutes, challenges and embellishes the medieval voice of Guillaume de Machaut and his medieval masterpiece.
RESPONSIO by Peter-Anthony Togni
A contemporary response to Guillaume de Machaut’s Messe de Nostre Dame
Jeff Reilly – bass clarinet
Suzie Leblanc – soprano
Andrea Ludwig – mezzo soprano
Charles Daniels – tenor
John Potter – tenor
RESPONSIO is Peter-Anthony Togni’s extensive musical commentary on Guillaume de Machaut’s medieval masterpiece the Messe de Nostre Dame. Juxtaposing the contemporary sound and performance practice of a bass clarinet against the timeless sonorities of a world class vocal quartet, Responsio brings Machaut’s beautiful 14th century creation into the heart of the 21st century.
Responsio is scored for solo bass clarinet and vocal quartet, and includes the entire Messe de Nostre Dame within the fabric of a 55 minute work. Juxtaposing bursts of bass clarinet improvisation against through composed choral material, Responsio casts the role of the bass clarinettist into that of a time traveller, bringing forward Machaut’s beautiful 14th creation into the heart of the 21st century.
Along with the wide ranging creative expression of bass clarinetist Jeff Reilly, Responsio draws upon the full resources of 4 singers that are among the very best in the world. The British tenors John Potter (past member of the Hilliard ensemble, and one of the singers in the very successful Officium project on ECM records) and Charles Daniels (famous for his work with the Kings Consort and his extensive discography) along with Canadians Suzie LeBlanc (one of Canada’s most celebrated sopranos, equally at home in early and contemporary music) and Andrea Ludwig (a true rising star in opera and contemporary concert performance) gives this project a very special weight.
Musica Kaleidoskopea 