Search - Busnoys, Pomerium, Blachly :: In Hydraulis

One of the delights of exploring early music is that there's always some wonderful discovery just around the corner--some composer or work you've never heard of or were afraid to take a chance on last year, but who now compels your attention. And you're pleasantly surprised, as you will be when you discover the works of 15th-century Burgundian composer Busnoys. From the very first minute of his fantastic In hydraulis--a tribute to Ockeghem--you'll realize that here was a composer of considerable talent for part writing, for melody, and for intricate rhythmic structures. No less interesting is his motet in honor of St. Anthony Abbot, with its vocal imitation of a tolling bell throughout. The writing is remarkably fluid and harmonically inventive--and the 13-voice ensemble Pomerium demonstrates absolutely marvelous control and virtuoso technique. --David Vernier