Philippe Verdelot: Madrigals for a Tudor King

Philippe Verdelot was the most important composer of Italian madrigals in the early 16th century and recognized as the greatest innovator of the genre.

A Frenchman, he occupied several important musical posts in Italy, including the Florentine posts of maestro di cappella at the Baptistry of S. Maria del Fiore and the great Duomo itself. In the mid 1520s, during his time in Florence, a set of part-books were assembled, probably under Verdelot’s supervision, for the court of Henry VIII.

Most, if not all, of the works were composed by Verdelot. This is the first recording of the complete madrigals in the collection, which stands not only as the most exceptional of diplomatic musical gifts but is also an important source for the history of the early madrigal.

In the press

Alamire are on fine form here, alternating several performance possibilities, as on their recent recording of Josquin for this label: solo lute, lute and voice, lute and vocal consort, or consort on its own. That the top line is often paired with the lute is no surprise, but other voices were often so treated, and different ones are heard here. The solo lute option works surprisingly well because the rhythm of the words is perfectly audible even when they are not actually sung (the lyrics of all the pieces are given in the booklet, regardless of how they are performed). – Gramophone Magazine

Skinner has Alamire perform with a variety of sonorities… ensemble, solo, accompanied, unaccompanied. This adds to the variety and interest; though sufficiently accomplished was Verdelot in his attachment and sensitivity to text that such changes are a bonus and in no sense longed for. This CD – while it has a historical interest, and a significant one – very much holds its own as music of great delight and import. We are to be grateful to David Skinner, Alamire and Obsidian for bringing it to our attention with such style and aplomb. Don’t hesitate. – Mark Sealey (Classical Net Review)

Obsidian should be commended alone for devoting a whole disc to this composer, whose work usually appears in one or two items per disc in the context of madrigal collections. – All Music