Richard Fairman
Financial Times
August 2015

Loyset Compère was born around 1445, which puts him contemporary with (or possibly earlier than) the more celebrated Josquin des Prez.

Twenty years ago The Orlando Consort made an influential recording of his music and here they are again, offering a new selection of Compère’s mostly short vocal pieces informed by recent scholarship.

The four, bright-voiced, male singers are quick to draw on the contrasts in chansons like the folksy 'Ung franc archier' and seductive 'Vous me faites morir d’envie'.

The 'Magnificat primi toni' shows Compère in a more expansive, sacred guise.