During the Middle Ages, the most important theoreticians wrote that music was produced by two types of voices: the vox artificialis, which was the sound of the instruments, and the vox naturalis, which was the sound produced by the human voice. This distinction between what was considered artificial and what was seen natural indicated that it was generally assumed that the human voice was the purest instrument, and thus the most perfect and appropriate for the liturgy, too.

The present anthology contains some of the most beautiful Cantus CDs, that illustrate three essential moments in the history of music: Gregorian Chant, the early polyphonies and their evolution in the works of Leonin, Perotin and their followers of the Notre Dame School, and Machaut’s Messe de Nostre Dame, the first complete polyphonic Mass cycle known. It is, thus, a magical travel through the art of the vocal medieval music, guided by Ensemble Gilles Binchois, under Dominique Vellard, unanimously considered as the most important specialist of these repertoires. These CDs recreate the essential traits of the memory of the Occidental medieval vocal art and rediscovers the unique mysticism, expressivity and mystery of medieval chant.

Including the original editions of the following CDs:

C 9617 Canto gregoriano: the notes of music (10th-11th centuries)
C 9703/4 Le chant des cathédrales: school of Notre Dame (12th to 14th centuries)
C 9624 Guillaume de Machaut: Messe de Nostre Dame (ca. 1360)

Ensemble Gilles Binchois, directed by Dominique Vellard

Including all the original booklets with a total of 250 pages and over 150 illustrations. Four languages. Full translations of all the sung texts.

Total time 51:00 + 53:36/65:42 + 56:45

Special set: