The New Consort | attrib. Josquin des Prez: Absalon fili mi

“Absalon, my son! If only I had died in your place...”
Absalon fili mi is one of the most heartbreaking expressions of grief to emerge from the Renaissance: its mid-phrase shifts in mode and musical affect perfectly capture King David's volatile emotions at the loss of his son Absalon. While frequently attributed to Josquin des Prez in scores from the period, recent scholarship has suggested the piece may have been composed by Pierre de la Rue. Regardless of authorship, Absalon fili mi is one of my personal favorites, and we're proud to share it with you as the final video from our series of Franco-Flemish déplorations.
This performance is from The New Consort’s February 2023 program Sounding Memory, which was co-curated by Artistic Director Brian Mummert and composer and scholar Simon Frisch.
The New Consort is
Jonathan May
John Ramseyer
Brian Mummert
Jonathan Woody
Recorded by Oliver Weston & Spiff Wiegand in Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church, NYC on February 14, 2023

[@adrianoguilhenbastogeferre602]

Unbelivably beautiful

[@yvetteworrall8909]

How securely the bass cradles the melodies. Redemptive therapy. Thank you.

[@thenewconsort]

Beautifully put! I feel the same about getting to sing this music. Thank you!

[@billymeyer99]

So beautiful

[@thenewconsort]

Thank you so much!

[@stevebranson7804]

Good job, John, John, John, and Brian!

[@thenewconsort]

Thank you!!

[@dbikeguy]

Bass really has the juice on the b flat, bravo, his range must be nuts

[@cosmejuares1696]

Magnifico

[@rexormax1925]

Amazing voices, amazing ensemble!

[@thenewconsort]

Thank you so much!

[@markfortuin7111]

What talent and putting it to good use! Well done guys!

[@sungchullee4628]

정말 아름답습니다. 줘스캥의 음악의 참맛을 들려줘서 감사합니다.

[@thenewconsort]

Thank you!

[@hectorfprez]

Mi tatar tatara abuelo, lo mas grande, el inventor de la musica...

[@pietkonijn5522]

Splendid !!

[@thenewconsort]

🙏

[@katherinelazar4990]

This is incredible!

[@thenewconsort]

Thanks so much!

[@c-historia]

great video!! 🎼

[@thenewconsort]

Thank you!!

[@jeffgross6649]

Fantastic piece and beautifully sung. Tempo a bit slow however, truth be told. ;)

[@tonyzuko90]

I love the tempo. Sorrowful and reverent.

[@thenewconsort]

Thanks for listening! We rather like our tempo too, thanks Tony 😏