Enough gossip, though. Guillaume de Machaut wrote some of the finest medieval music I've ever heard. Indeed, he wrote some of the finest music I've ever heard, period.

This album is so beautiful; it takes you to a place that one might mistake for heaven. You will think that you are listening to angels singing in French when you hear it. The entire album is _a capella_; that is to say that the only instruments you will hear are human voices. Some of the tracks such as "Foy Porter," and "Tuit Mi Penser" are monophonic; that is to say that only one voice is present, sometimes male, sometimes female. These monophonic songs are extrememly pretty; they have very pleasing and interesting melodies and rhythms -- just as sophisticated as anything one might hear in later periods, but different in style both compositionally and in terms of performance. The singing on this album is world-class. The singing style and technique is very interesting and pleasing to the ear. The range of pitches is pretty wide, yet even the higher registers are smooth and natural, not overwhelming or grating like some opera sopranos can be at times.

The best material on the album, though, is polyphonic; that is music with several voices which create harmonies and counterpoint. There are four- and five-part harmonies that are out of this world, mixing male and female voices in a manner one might describe as an otherworldly, Francophonic, medieval barber shop quartet/quintet. If the Beach Boys had grown up in 14th-century France, they would have been performing music like this. "Dame, Je Sui Cilz/Fins Cuers Doulz," and "Dame, Mon Cuer En Vous Remaint" are two such songs, and my personal favorite is "Dame, DE Qui Toute Ma Joie Vient." The counterpoint and counterrhythms are as sophisticated and impressive as the harmonies. It's really quite stunning, ethereal, beautiful music. If you like early music, you will love this. If you are not yet familiar with much early music, this album would be a wonderful introduction.


Fabulous!   December 21, 2001
 3 out of 4 found this review helpful

This is a fabulous example of medieval a capella singing. It was used in a literature class of mine, and I liked it so much that I decided to purchase it. I haven't been disappointed. The voci bianche of these singers almost brought me to tears. Definately worth buying!


Great musicianship and purity of tone   January 28, 2006
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is one of my favorite early music CDs and perhaps my favorite Machaut CD. Wonderful material, intelligently presented, sung by gorgeous voices with perfect pitch control. Groups like Gothic Voices are sometimes criticized for being too perfect (i.e., real medieval musicians wouldn't have been this good and/or polished), but to my ears this is wonderful stuff. Highly recommended.


Unmatched Machaut   April 30, 2007
 3 out of 5 found this review helpful

I'd forgotten this disk in a corner of my collection until I heard an concert by another group, Liber UnUsualis. I reviewed their CD "Unrequited" quite enthusiastically, but then I searched for "The Mirror of Narcissus" and listened to the two head-to-head. Results: both good, but "The Mirror" is more intense, more passionate, and more artful in articulating the hockets and other effects of Ars Nova heterophony. If Gothic Voices ever had a reputation of being "academic but dull", that was a bad rap. This performance is fiery.


Creating harmonies with the beat of your heart   March 22, 2000
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

The poetry is beautiful in itself. To put it to music makes the beauty come alive.