These recordings show a bold mix: breathtaking a cappella interpretations of the Octonaires de la Vanité du Monde by Paschal de L'Estocart (1582) and pieces from the Geneva Psalter (1562) meet the reworkings of Sylvain Chauveau. The voices of chant 1450, trained in early music, sing these pieces with lyrics about transience full of emotion and elegance.
Sylvain Chauveau (born 1971) has released more than ten records albums of delicate music, very minimal compositions for acoustic instruments, electronics and vocals, on labels such as FatCat, Type, Les Disques du Soleil et de l'Acier, Brocoli, and
Sub Rosa.
He has played live, and performed in many museums and art galleries, in Europe, Asia and North America, had tea with
Éliane Radigue, created a seven-year long ultra-minimal composition, shaken hands with Ryuichi Sakamoto, conducted a label releasing one-off records only, and is featured on the compilation
XVI Reflections on Classical Music (Point Music) alongside
Philip Glass,
Alva Noto, and
Gavin Bryars.
Chant 1450 Renaissance Ensemble sings and plays the sacred and secular repertoire of the 15th and 16th century. Including musicians trained at the widely renowned college for early music Schola cantorum in Basel, Switzerland, chant 1450 appeared live in January 2005 and sang then a highly acclaimed first tour in Switzerland with La contenance angloise - sacred music of the 15th century, followed by more than 150 live performances in Germany, Italy, Czech Republic and Switzerland until today. chant 1450 was invited to major festivals like the Rheingau Festival (Germany), the Montalbâne Festival (Germany), Festival for Early Music Zurich and many more. Artistic Director and responsible for all programmes and recordings including sounddesign is Daniel Manhart, a tenor born in Switzerland.
