The Early Music Show - L'homme arme melody

Catherine Bott talks to Edward Wickham, director of the vocal ensemble The Clerks, about the tradition and use of the L'homme arme melody in many 15th and 16th-century mass settings. They discuss the history and career of this tune, why it was so popular and the various composers who might have been the first to employ this melody. Music in the programme includes movements of mass settings by Busnois, Regis, Palestrina and the six-part setting by Josquin. Anon chanson: L'homme arme The Tallis Scholars Gimell CDGIM 019 track 1 Robert Morton: Il sera pour vous/L'homme arme The Clerks/Edward Wickham ASV CDGAU 204 track 1 Dufay: Kyrie (from setting of Missa L'homme arme) The Hilliard Ensemble EMI CDC 7476282 track 1 Ockeghem: Gloria (from setting of Missa L'homme arme) The Clerks/Edward Wickham ASV CDGAU 204 track 3 Regis: Credo (from setting of Missa L'homme arme) The Clerks/Edward Wickham Musique en Wallonie MEW 0848-0849 CD 2 track 4 Busnois: Sanctus (from setting of Missa L'homme arme) The Binchois Consort Hyperion CDA 67319 track 4 Morales: Benedictus (from setting of Missa L'homme arme) Chapelle du Roi/Alastair Dixon Signum SIGCD 019 track 9 Josquin: Agnus Dei from Missa L'homme arme sexti toni (6 part) A Sei Voci/Bernard Fabre-Garrus Astree Naive E8809 track 6 Gabriel Jackson: The armed man The Clerks/Edward Wickham (from CD due for future release) Palestrina: Agnus Dei from Missa L'homme arme Pro Cantione Antiqua/Mark Brown Allegro PCD1111 track 21.