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Jean Mouton: Missa tu es Petrus & other works: including the complete eight-part motets

Research content/process:

Although known as one of the leading composers of the Josquin generation, Jean Mouton has not yet benefited from the exposure that a complete critical edition of his works would bring. This project sought to bring together all of Mouton’s eight-voice motets in performance, editing them all afresh. The Mass, also (Mouton’s only five-voice setting) was re-edited, using the Vatican manuscript (Capella Sistina MS 16) as its primary source, rather than the later Modena manuscript as in the existing CMM edition. During the process of editing the motets it became clear that although its attribution is unchallenged, the motet Fulgebunt iusti was most unlikely on stylistic grounds to be by Mouton, and furthermore is extremely corrupt in its unique source. This piece was therefore excluded and replaced with two four-voice motets. The performance challenges of these pieces relate first to the French-accented Latin that Mouton presumably set (syllabic sections of the Mass confirm this supposition), as well as the extremely melismatic nature of his style in the less text-based Mass movements. Second, eight-part pieces are substantially more difficult to control in performance, and to record, than the more usual four- or five-voice textures, especially when polytextual (as in the state motet Exultet coniubilando, which has two cantus firmi, each with a separate text from the main motet, all three relating to Pope Leo X). The CD was Disc of the Week on BBC Radio 3’s Record Review programme (25 August 2012), and BBC Music Magazine ‘Choral and Song’ Choice. Music from it was performed by the ensemble at the Festival de musique ancienne, Ribeauvillé, Alsace (September 2012) and the St John’s Smith Square Christmas Festival (December 2012).