Cantio Triplex performed by the recorder ensemble DIFERENCIAS with Conrad Steinmann, Elsa Frank, Helma Franssen and Urs Haenggli encompasses western European Music of the 15th century, early medieval music from the eastern Mediterranean, and medieval Russian-Orthodox music from the Slavonic cultural sphere.

 

The Music from Byzantium chosen for this recording was written in neumes and its meter and melodic flow still totally oriented on the text.Nevertheless, it evidences a vivacity which is hardly ween in Western repertoire. That was the reason why Diferencias decided to let instruments give voise to this vivid music.Old-Russian Music stems from the Middle Ages, but flourished until into the 17th century. It is still not very known to music lovers. Diferencias presents for the first time works composed by Russian Anonymus of the 17th century.

 

Guillaume Dufay, the “Master of the North” (1400-1474), represents one of the peaks of Western music history. Molded by his years in Italy, he created a unique synthesis of northern and southern melodic sweetness with the high art of counterpoint, canonical forms and other composital refinements. In this spirit Diferecias has approached “Maistre du Fay” works: We have tried to approach this wealth of invention and fantasy from the 15th century with a colorful palette of sounds and with imagination - that of the late 20 th century, to be sure, but one which nevertheless can still lead to unexpected results. We have attempted to bring these works together with the greatest respect, reverence and knowledge combined with a light and smooth touch.