Wach auff mein hort der lewcht dort her
Min hertz in hohen fröuden
Dijn troost allein
Möcht ich dein wegeren
Ich bin pey ir sy wais nit darumb
So wie bi lieve in rusten leit
Des klaffers neyden
Allmächtig got herr Jhesu Christ
Der winter will hin weichen
Scinc her den wijn
Ein vrouleen edel von nature
Binnen in mir hertzen cas
Frow myn willen nym vergüt
Egidius waer bestu bleven
Was ich begynne
O, cranc onseker broosch engien
Wiplich figur/Bekenne myn klag
Wel up elc sin die vruecht begaert

The poems and songs of the Gruuthuse Manuscript originated in Bruges around 1400, and the collection is named after the later owner, Lodewijk van Gruuthuse. The songs form the most well-known part of the collection: love songs, bawdy songs and drinking songs. The Gruuthuse Manuscript contains the largest collection of Dutch language songs from the medieval period, and it is the largest collection of songs with music notation. The form of the songs also attests to the fact that these songs were intended for connoisseurs. The poet uses formes fixes, the canonized forms of French songs of the late medieval times: ballades, rondeaus and virelais, and the wide variety of the forms used is remarkable.

Instrumentalists have been around all over Europe during the 15th century, but musical manuscripts unambiguously showing a repertoire for instrumental ensembles from that period are scarce. The instrumental repertoire on this CD contains arrangements and polyphonic ensemble pieces from about 1450-70. The arrangements are either instrumental versions based on pre-existing polyphonic models or arranged monophonic tenors.

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Recorded at Schuilkerk de Hoop, Diemen (NL) 30 June-2 July, 2018. Recorders: reconstructed mid-15th c. recorders, based on research into the Dordrecht; Recorder (before 1418) and Rafi-instruments (early 16th c.) by Fumitaka Saito and M. Magalhaes, 2016.