Skeleton Dance finally reconstructed with Petite Camusette by Josquin Desprez! (GRAINDELAVOIX)

Image: The Skeleton Dance (fragment), part of Silly Symphony (1929 animation film directed by Walt Disney, animated by Ub Iwerks.) Music: Petite Camusette by Josquin Desprez, performed by GRAINDELAVOIX, directed by Björn Schmelzer with Andrew Hallock, Albert Riera, Andrés Miravete, Marius Peterson, Adrian Sîrbu, Tomàs Maxé, Arnout Malfliet, Lukas Henning (lute) and Philippe Malfeyt (cittern) Check out our new release for the Glossa Label: JOSQUIN THE UNDEAD : LAMENTS, DEPLORATIONS AND DANCES OF DEATH Works by Josquin des Prez (and Gombert, Vinders, Appenzeller) included in Tielman Susato’s Septiesme Livre (Antwerp 1545) Recorded in Banna (Fondazione Spinola Banna per l’Arte), Poirino, Italy, on 8 June 2021 Engineered by Alexandre Fostier Recording supervised by Eugénie De Mey Editing: Alexandre Fostier and Björn Schmelzer Editing feedback and corrections: Arnout Malfliet Produced by Graindelavoix Executive producer: Carlos Céster, Glossa Music “Petite Camusette is a real Totentanz or danse macabre, reminiscent of the familiar topos of the lov- ing couple stalked by the figure of death (to nod to Albrecht Dürer’s engraving). The chanson evokes Robin and Marion, walking in the woods hand in hand and falling asleep, with Camusette or Camuse the personification of death, to whom the narrator exclaims, “A la mort m’avez mis” (“You have brought me to death”). Josquin emphasises the chanson’s dance aspect by writing triple metre figures in some parts, which we have enlarged here through instrumental accompaniment. The two middle voices are integrally canonical, while the two top voices and two bass voices engage in simulated song is a whirlpool of canons and semi-canons, floating between popular tradition and more detached sophistication.“ Petite Camusette, À la mort m’avez mis. Robin et Marion S’en vont au bois ioly, Ilz s’en vont bras à bras, Ilz se sont endormis. Petite Camusette, À la mort m’avez mis.