Tonrroutt, Thauranth, Tauront, Taurath, Torenth: variant spellings are common in the manuscript tradition, but few composers had their names distorted by copyists as much as that of the protagonist of this recording. As a result, the identity of this Flemish composer remained a mystery for a long time. We know that a certain Johannes Tourout was a cantor in the chapel of Emperor Frederik III of Habsburg. The composer must have been very popular in Central Europe: many of his works can be found in important manuscripts from that region. Given the astonishing craftsmanship of his compositions, it is remarkable that Johannes Tourout has received so little attention to this day.
Cappella Mariana and artistic director Vojtěch Semerád attempt to fill this gap with this portrait album. With a mass, motets and French secular songs, the artists aim to capture the broad stylistic spectrum of 15th-century polyphony.
Passacaille and Alamire Foundation join forces
Passacaille emerged in the previous century around the figure of Paul Dombrecht, who had a passion for lesser-known repertoire and revived it with careful attention to historical and cultural context in concerts and recordings. Already in those early years, there were sporadic collaborations with the Alamire Foundation in polyphony projects. This resulted in unique recordings with, among others, the Capilla Flamenca (Alexander Utendal and Philippus de Monte) and More Maiorum (Jean de Castro).
When Jan De Winne took over the label in 2004, the idea that was at the basis of Passacaille was further developed: to build a platform for artists who approach music with attention to the historical and cultural background of the repertoire performed. A platform for both established artists and young performers and emerging talent. Often the instruments used are part of the compelling story of the recordings. The synergy between music and design is always taken into account and special attention is paid to informative texts accompanying the productions.
Over the past 15 years, Passacaille has grown into a valued reference among early music labels. Precisely because of this international support, it now intends to disseminate the heritage of Flemish polyphony worldwide in the Alamire Foundation Editions series, an ambition that both organizations share.
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