Closing its ambitious and acclaimed 2015-16 season, New York-based early music ensemble TENET presents Music of the Burgundians, the final installment of a season-long exploration of avant-garde French repertoire spanning the 13th to the 15th centuries. Under the banner The Sounds of Time, guest director Robert Mealy has led previous programs in the series featuring music of the 13th-century Northern French trouvères, and of the ars subtilior, the elaborate art of Avignon from the late 14th century. Music of the Burgundians, which will be presented on Friday, May 20 at New York City’s Midtown East St. Peter’s Church, casts a spotlight on the eastern French region’s foremost composers of the 15th century.

The celebrated composers Guillaume Dufay and Gilles Binchois were instrumental in shaping the musical offerings of the influential Burgundian court. Reacting to the more complex ars subtilior, these composers adhered to clearer textures, flowing rhythms and elegant melodies, a style that became known as ars nova – a new art.

TENET’s program juxtaposes Dufay’s secular songs – such as the tongue-in-cheek martial music of “Donnes l’assault”, the smooth rhythms of “J’atendray tant,” and the joyful New Years’ dance “Ce jour de l’an” with the likes of Binchois’ popular rondeaux “De plus en plus” and “Ay, doloureux”, the latter of which were appropriated in mass settings by the younger famous Flemish composer Johannes Ockeghem.

Framing TENET’s program are works by Dufay’s and Binchois’ older colleague Johan de Haucourt who broke the groundwork for their new style, and the younger Antoine Busnoys who was a student of Ockeghem. Representing the last generation of the Burgundians is Hayne van Ghizeghem who penned some of the most popular tunes of the 15th century which were copied far and wide by luminaries such as Jacob Obrecht, Josquin des Prez and many others, creating the hit songs of the day.

The Burgundians held an influence not unlike the one TENET projects on to today’s early music performance scene in New York City. As The New Yorker put it, “who better than [artistic director] Jolle Greenleaf’s daring ensemble, comprised of some of the city’s finest vocal talent (under the guidance of the guest director Robert Mealy), to bring this tantalizing repertoire to midtown?”

Music of the Burgundians is presented in memory of TENET board member Richard Steinman who passed away in March 2016.

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For further information, image or interview requests please contact Melanne Mueller, MusicCo International, 917 907 2785, melanne@musiccointernational.com

For further information about TENET, please visit http://www.tenet.nyc

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The Sounds of Time: Music of the Burgundians Friday, May 20, 2016 – 7:00 pm

Program to include:
Guillaume Dufay (1397 – 1474)
Donnes l'assault
J'atendray tant
Ce jour de l'an

Gilles Binchois (c. 1400 – 1460)
De plus en plus
Ay, doloureux

Works by:
Johan de Haucourt (fl 1390 – after 1416)
Antoine Busnoys (1430 – 1492)
Hayne van Ghizeghem (1445 – 1472)

Jolle Greenleaf soprano and artistic director
Virginia Warnken alto
Jason McStoots tenor
Andrew Padgett bass
Robert Mealy vielle and guest director
Priscilla Herreid winds
Charles Weaver lute

St. Peter’s Church
619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street
New York, NY 10022