France dominated the European musical scene until the arrival of Flemish polyphony around 1400, with the 12th-century polyphony of Aquitaine, the 13th-century Ars Antiqua of the Paris school, the Ars Nova in the 14th century, and the Ars Subtilior of Guillaume de Machaut and his contemporaries in Paris and Avignon.

On 25 August the Church of Sint-Carolus Borromeus in Antwerp will host a concert entitled “La messe des artistes, Il Nostrome del Sogno”, which will give an overview of the main polyphonic genres and styles used in Notre Dame de Paris around 1200. There is no admission charge. Many festival events are centred around 16th-century French music. The Ensemble Clément Janequin, the 2007 ensemble in residence, will begin the festivities on the evening of 25 August with a performance of Antoine Brumel’s magnificent mass for twelve voices, three organs and nine wind instruments.

The Missa et ecce terrae motus is based on a Gregorian antiphon in which “the earth shakes”. The festival programme overflows with outstanding musicians and ensembles, including the celebrated American lutenist Paul O’Dette, whose performance in the Elzenveld Chapel on 30 August will feature works by French composers (Adrien Le Roy, Guillaume Morlaye, Albert de Rippe and Jean-Paul Paladin) published in tablature in Paris and Lyon between 1550 and 1560. Details on the www.festival.be/antwerpen website.