The composers of the Flemish Renaissance School were so highly regarded that they had their pick of musical posts all over Europe.
Images, L-R: Orlande de Lassus, Guillaume Dufay, Gilles Binchois and Johannes Ockeghem.
As Michael Stewart explains, while the topic covers hundreds of composers, as a group they have a distinct style.
With its reliance on incredibly complex polyphony and scores which might contain riddles or symbols instead of clear directions; the music of the Flemish Renaissance came to be regarded as dry and academic by some. Stewart argues that it’s impossible to hold this opinion if you just listen to the music.
Music Details:
CLEMENS: Ego flos campi - Stile Antico (Harmonia Mundi HMU 80 7489)
OCKEGHEM: Kyrie II, from Missa Prolationum – The Hilliard Ensemble/ Paul Hillier (EMI CDC 7 49798)
DUFAY: Kyrie, from Missa L’homme arme - The Hilliard Ensemble (EMI CDC 7 47628)
DUFAY: Nuper rosarum flores – Cantica Symphonia (sourced from itunes)
OCKEGHEM: Kyrie, from Missa cuiusvis toni in D - Ensemble Musica Nova/ Lucien Kandel (Aeon AECD 0753)
OCKEGHEM: Kyrie, from Missa cuiusvis toni in G - Ensemble Musica Nova/ Lucien Kandel (Aeon AECD 0753)
JOSQUIN: Ave Maria – Tallis Scholars/ Peter Philips (Gimell CD GIM 010)
BRUMEL: Credo, from Missa Et ecce terrae motus – The Tudor Consort/ Michael Stewart (Organism ORG007)
GOMBERT: Tulerunt Dominum – Oxford Camerata/ Jeremy Summerly (Naxos 8.557732)
LASSUS: Lassus Il magnanimo - Capella Ducale Venetia/ Livio Picotti (CPO 999 862)
CLEMENS: Ego flos campi - Stile Antico (Harmonia Mundi HMU 80 7489)
