Music for a Mad King
In 1392, King Charles VI of France was declared insane. In the midst of the Hundred Years’ War, his repeated absences left the field open to princes hungry for power and wealth. Thus began three dark decades for the kingdom of France, torn apart by civil war between Armagnacs and Burgundians, scarred by the bloody defeat at Agincourt, and ultimately handed over to the English crown in 1420. This is the epic tale Into the Winds brings to life, shedding light on a period as fascinating as it is overlooked, where the contours of a new musical art were already taking shape.
Comfortably reclaiming this little-known repertoire (Coutreman, Lebertoul and Le Grant delight us in particular), the excellent musicians of Into the Winds, occasionally joined by Pierre Hamon, captivate with their inventiveness. One admires the clarity they bring to the dense counterpoint of Je ris, je chante, je m’esbas; one revels in the small flute and the shawms, delicately propelled by the drum, which illuminate the famous Agincourt Carol. The diminutions remain supple (Depuis un peu un joyeux parlement), and while the hocket effects of the motet Summe Summy, tu patris unice / Summa Summy, tu matris filii recall the Middle Ages, it is indeed toward the Renaissance that the bold harmonies of Johannes Le Grant or Tapissier lead us. Anne Ibos-Augé, Diapason Magazine
Beyond the inclusion of exceptionally rare repertoire, sure to captivate medieval-music enthusiasts, the sheer quality of the performance, and the vivid, compelling character the five players bring to their musical portrait of Charles VI’s reign, will undoubtedly appeal to a much wider audience. Alain Cochard, Concert Classic
Into the Winds
Adrien Reboisson : shawms, dolzaina & recorders
Anabelle Guibeaud : shawms, tabor pipe & recorders
Marion Le Moal : shawms & recorders
Rémi Lécorché : buisine, slide trumpet & recorders
Laurent Sauron : drums
Pierre Hamon : bagpipes & artistic director for the recording
JĂ©rĂ´me Lejeune : sound recording and production