The Ensemble Santenay invites us on an enthralling journey through the French Ars Subtilior [trans “more subtle art”] repertory of the fourteenth century. These pieces with their often esoteric texts are presented here as a genuine sound project. Just as works of art are framed with the greatest care, the musicians have devised sound frames for the compositions on this album, in order to introduce them, link them with each other, take them further than usual, and above all make sure our ears and our consciousness are alert at the moment when the art makes its appearance. These sonic atmospheres are realised with the aid of sounds produced by instruments, scraps of pieces of music, sometimes a single voice. Santenay sets Medieval and Early Renaissance music on instruments typical for the period, that is, on the recorder, the vielle, the lute and the organetto. In the original manuscripts there are no indications of instrumentation; therefore it is open to the musicians to decide on the most suitable instrument for each part.