Jean Maillard, The Marian Consort, Rory McCleery - Missa Je Suis Desheritee & Motets
STYLE: Choral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 146592- LABEL: Delphian DCD34130 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Steven Whitehead
Jean Maillard's life is shrouded in mystery, and his music is rarely heard today. He was born in France around the year 1515 and died at some point after 1570, which leaves quite a gap to fill. Evidently, in his own time his works were both influential and widely known as many of his motets were used as source material for parody masses by composers as distinguished as Palestrina; in addition Lassus reworked some of his music. His "Missa Pro Mortuis" was an early Requiem, and one of the only examples from France in the 16th century. Maillard is still better known in manuscript form so perhaps it is time that he makes it on to CD and here Rory McCleery's Marian Consort give this composer's rich and varied output its first dedicated recording. I enjoyed listening to this album but regret to report that none of it has stuck in my memory beyond the fact that it was well sung. Clearly Maillard was a proficient workman and undoubtedly the Marian Consort have served him well but obscure composers tend to be obscure for a reason. Josquin, Lassus and Palestrina are all far more significant and all make better starting points for those wishing to explore Franco-Flemish polyphony.
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