Machaut's Messe de Nostre Dame is the earliest known setting of the Ordinary Mass by a single composer. Paul Hillier avoids a full reconstruction on this release: his deference to 'authenticity' restricts itself to the usage of 14th century French pronunciation of the Latin. His ensemble sings two to a part, with prominent countertenors.
It's arguable whether the musicians sing the chant at too fast a tempo but they're smooth and flexible, and the performance as a whole is both fluid and light in texture. Also included on this release are two French compositions. The wonderful Lai 'de la fonteinne' is admirably sung by three tenors and is pure delight – providing food for the heart as well as for the intellect. The rather more familiar Ma fin est mon commencement, with its retrograde canon, completes this admirable disc.