Wandering the Medieval
sat 26 sep 2026 11:00 hrs
Today’s programme is devoted to the Codex Chantilly
The Codex Chantilly is a manuscript of works in the style known as ars subtilior, a style noted for its rhythmic complexity. It contains a total of 112 polyphonic pieces, most of them dating from the second half of the 14th century. The collection represents several genres, including the ballade, virelai and rondeau.
The composers of some of these works are unknown, while the attribution of others remains uncertain. Three of the composers featured today, however, are known with certainty: Solage, Franciscus Andrieu and Jacob de Senleches.
Solage remains an enigmatic figure. We don’t know whether the name refers to a composer, an epithet or perhaps an anagram, nor do we know whether Solage was active in France at all. Galiot is equally mysterious. The name appears only in the Codex Chantilly, and just the two works can be attributed to him with certainty.
Almost nothing is known about Franciscus Andrieu, either. He is generally regarded as the composer of a ballade written in response to the death of Guillaume de Machaut.
Jacob de Senleches took his surname from his birthplace near Cambrai and he may have been active in the orbit of the Visconti court in Milan. Philipoctus de Caserta, whose name suggests a southern Italian origin, may also have had connections with the Visconti court, as well as with the papal court in Avignon. Little is known about where Antonello da Caserta worked, but he too appears to have had connections with the Visconti family.
Solage (late 14th century)
1. S’aincy estoit (ballade)
Anonymous
2. Un crible (virelai)
Philipoctus de Caserta (active c. 1370) (attr.)
3. Médée fu (ballade)
Antonello da Caserta (active c. 1400) (attr.)
4. Je ne puis avoir plaisir (virelai)
Johannes Galiot (active c. 1380–1395) (attr.)
5. Se vos ne voles (rondeau) (instrumental)
Franciscus Andrieu (late 14th century)
6. De Narcissus (ballade)
Jacob de Senleches (active 1382/83)
7. Je me merveil (ballade)
Tetraktys:
Jill Feldman, soprano; Carlos Mena, countertenor; Silvia Tecardi, fiddle; Marta Graziolino, harp; Kees Boeke, recorder and fiddle
(CD: Codex Chantilly 1 – Olive Music/Et’cetera KTC 1900, 2008)
Anonymous
8. Trotto
Kees Boeke, recorder
(CD: Trecento – Olive Music/Et’cetera KTC 1902, 2008)
Photo: page from the Codex Chantilly
