Guillaume Dufay – Chansons [Performed by Ensemble Unicorn, 1996]

Guillaume Dufay was a fifteenth century composer who worked for most of his life in northern France.  Regarded even in his lifetime as that era's premiere composer, Dufay’s oeuvre contains elements of both the high Medieval and early Renaissance, managing the difficult balancing act of innovating while staying rooted in tradition, and getting contemporaries to appreciate it.

The songs presented on this album are secular, and consequently are more forward-looking.  The track list alternates between instrumental and vocal performances, though it must be said that the vocal pieces best display the rich and tuneful polyphony for which Dufay is known.  The instrumental tracks muddy the interplay of voices (at least to my uncouth modern ear), but the use of period instruments is still a treat.

[Youtube] Dufay - Ce Jour De L'an 

Guillaume Dufay – Chansons

01 - J'ay Mis Mon Cue

02 - Par Droit Je Puis Bien Complaindre

03 - Quel Fronte Signorille - La Dolce Vista

04 - Puisque Vous Estez Campieur

05 - Belle, Que Vous Ay Je Mesfait

06 - Vergene Bella

07 - Se La Face Ay Pale

08 - Donnes L'assault À Ia Fortresse

09 - Par Le Regard De Vos Beaux Yeux

10 - Resvelons Nous

11 - Ce Jour De L'an

12 - Mon Chier Amy

13 - Pour L'amour De Ma Doulce Amye

14 - Helas Mon Dueil

15 - Bon Jour, Bon Mois

16 - Resvelliés Vous Et Faites Chiere Lye

17 - Adieu Ces Bons Vins De Lannoys