One of the most popular works of medieval French literature, Le Roman de la Rose survives today in some 300 manuscripts dating from the late 13th to the early 16th century. Widely read throughout Europe, the poem, an allegorical dream vision about love, influenced much of the literary output of the Middle Ages and was enjoyed by poets such as Chaucer, Dante and Petrarch. The music for this concert comes from the 15th-century Burgundian manuscript known as the Mellon Chansonnier, which holds a close connection with the Roman de la Rose. The songbook contains works by Tinctoris and other leading composers of the day including Dufay, Busnois, Ockeghem, Binchois and Frye, with songs in French, Italian, English, Spanish and Latin.

Performers: