COMPOSERS: Agricola,Fitch
LABELS: Harmonia Mundi
ALBUM TITLE: Agricola, Fitch
WORKS: Chansons (Agricola)
PERFORMER: Fretwork; Michael Chance (countertenor)
CATALOGUE NO: HMU 907421
Although there was a flurry of
releases not so long ago (including
the Unicorn Ensemble’s Naxos
album, a good introduction to his
secular songs) there’s no doubt that
Agricola remains under-represented
in the recording catalogue.
A fairy-tale marriage
john allison welcomes Rattle’s telling of Szymanowski
Agricola worked with Josquin
and Ockeghem, was born in Ghent
around 1446, and died in Spain in
1506. His reputation was such that,
uncommonly for the time, he earned
his living as a singer and composer.
Whilst his biography comprises more
gaps than facts, we know he worked
for various courts in Italy, France,
Spain and Luxembourg.
He has been described as ‘the
last great Gothic composer’, but
the urbanity and elegance of his
music would not have sounded
old-fashioned in later Renaissance/
Tudor courts. This programme
showcases his rather eccentric, even
prickly, approach. His mischievous
subversion of convention (such as
the unexpected pitching of imitative
voices) may largely pass us by today
but was dubbed ‘bizarre and crazy’ by
his contemporaries. His agility
and airiness sweeten Agricola’s
sometimes dissonant counterpoint.
Ears accustomed to the sound
of the classic string quartet may
find the viol consort sombre and
unaccommodating but, as ever,
Fretwork brings out the warmth
and subtlety of the instruments, and
Michael Chance sings convincingly
in his four appearances.
Fabrice Fitch, who produced new
performing editions of most of this
music, supplies drier textures in two
pieces from his multi-movement
cycle, Agricologies. One suspects
that Agricola would have approved
of their appealingly quirky sound.
Barry Witherden