Chant Des Oyseaulx

In the 16th century, birdsong constituted an essential part of a broad stream of natural imitation that runs through the musical aesthetics of the Humanist Age. By including these imitations in their compositions, composers were attempting to lift their works to the summit of Parnassus. Janequin never lost his taste for bird-song, from the first attempts of 1520 down to the last chansons of the 1550s. This special recording featuring the Ensemble Clement Janequin has never left the harmonia mundi catalogue in nearly thirty years, and is still regarded as a benchmark.