En Harmonie [Import]

1. Besoin De Rien,Envie De Toi

2. Un Peu De Tendres-Se

3. J'ai Encore Rive D'lle

4. Ouble Les Maux

5. Alexandrie,Alexandra

6. Il Jouiat Du Piano D'amour

7. Merci Mambo

8. La Mala - Die D'amour

9. Emmene - Moi Tout En Nuance

10. Sans Etat D'me

11. Ill Suffira D'un Signe

12. Hommage + Francis Lai Et Michel Legrand

En Harmonie,Peter & Sloane,Disky,World Music

Average customer rating: Excellent Rendition of Early Music. Buy It. Fun and full of love from a newcomer viewpoint Love's Illusion OUTSTANDING

Love's Illusion-Music From The Montpellier Codex 13th Century Anonymous 4 , and Marsha Genensky Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Vocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems Anonymous 4 | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Lily and the Lamb: Chant and Polyphony from Medieval England Miracles of Sant'iago: Music from the Codex Calistinus An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant and Polyphony Legends of St. Nicholas: Medieval Chant & Polyphony La Bele Marie: Songs to the Virgin from 13th-Century France ASIN: B0000007E5 Release Date: 1994-08-23

Tracks:

1. Montpellier Codex: Plus Bele Que Flor - Quant Revient - L'autrier Joer - Flos Filius (Mo 21)
2. Montpellier Codex: Puisque Bele Dame M'eime - Flos Filius (Mo 231)
3. Montpellier Codex: Amours Mi Font Souffrir - En Mai - Flos Filius (Mo 111)
4. Montpellier Codex: Ne Sai, Que Je Die - Iohanne (Mo 185)
5. Montpellier Codex: Si Je Chante - Bien Doi Amer - Et Sperabit (Mo 311)
6. Montpellier Codex: Or Ne Sai Je Que Devenir - Puisque D'amer - Kyrieleyson (Mo 267)
7. Montpellier Codex: H? Dieus, De Si Haut Si Bas - Maubatus - Cumque (Mo 92)
8. Montpellier Codex: Celui En Qui - La Bele Estoile - La Bele, En Qui - Iohanne (Mo 20)
9. Montpellier Codex: Qui D'amours Se Plaint - Lux Magna (Mo 215)
10. Montpellier Codex: Amours, Dont Je Sui - L'autrier, Au Douz Mois - Chose Tassin (Mo 270)
11. Montpellier Codex: Au Cuer Ai Un Mal - Ja Ne M'en Repentirai - Jolietement (Mo 260)
12. Montpellier Codex: Quant Voi La Fleur - Et Tenuerunt (Mo 241)
13. Montpellier Codex: Quant Se Depart - Onques Ne Sai Amer - Docebit Omnem (Mo 131)
14. Montpellier Codex: Joliement - Quant Voi La Florete - Je Sui Joliete - Aptatur (Mo 34)
15. Montpellier Codex: Amor Potest Conqueri - Ad Amorem Sequitur (Mo 238)
16. Montpellier Codex: Ce Que Je Tieng - Certes Mout - Bone Compaignie - Manere (Mo 33)
17. Montpellier Codex: J'ai Si Bien Mon Cuer Assiz - Aucun M'ont - Angelus (Mo 128)
18. Montpellier Codex: Ne M'oubliez Mie - Domino (Mo 236)
19. Montpellier Codex: J'ai Mis Toute Ma Pensee - Je N'en Puis - Puerorum (Mo 255)
20. Montpellier Codex: Blanchete - Quant Je Pens - Valare (Mo 168)
21. Montpellier Codex: Dame, Qeu Je N'os Noumer - Amis Donc Est - Lonc Tans A (Mo 337)
22. Montpellier Codex: Li Savours De Mon Desir - Li Grant Desir - Non Veul Mari (Mo 323)
23. Montpellier Codex: Entre Copin - Je Me Cuidoie - Bele Ysabelos (Mo 256)
24. Montpellier Codex: S'on Me Regarde - Prenn?s I Garde - H?, Mi Enfant (Mo 223)
25. Montpellier Codex: Quant Yver La Bise Ameine - In Seculum (Mo 223)
26. Montpellier Codex: Ne M'a Pas Oubli? - In Seculum (Mo 207)
27. Montpellier Codex: On Doit Fin[e] Amor - La Biaut? - In Seculum (Mo 134)
28. Montpellier Codex: Ja N'amerai Autre Que Cele - In Seculum (Mo 3)
29. Montpellier Codex: Quant Je Parti De M'amie - Tuo (Mo 200)

Amazon.com essential recording

How's this for a concept: "True love may exist only outside of marriage, and a man must subject himself totally to the will of his beloved, whether or not her requests seem rational." If you think these ideas strange, be glad you weren't looking for love in France in the Middle Ages. These precepts course through thousands of song lyrics and love poetry during the 12th and 13th centuries and some of them appear on this exceptional recording by Anonymous 4. Specifically, these four women perform 13th century French motets found in an important manuscript known as the Montpellier Codex. These polyphonic works span the entire century and thus express a variety of styles. Sometimes the use of texts is striking, as when a love song, a diatribe against hypocrisy, and a rousing drinking song are sung simultaneously. Not bad, if you can get away with it. Anonymous 4 can-and does. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Rendition of Early Music. Buy It........2005-10-29

`Love's Illusion' is the third album done by the medieval vocal quartet, `Anonymous 4' and the first recording for them of secular motets, although it is important to note that to my relatively uneducated ear, I find it hard to discern the difference between these French love songs and their renditions of medieval church music.

This is not to say I have a totally tin ear but rather to indicate that there is as strong or stronger connection between these secular songs and the liturgical music of the day as there is between Aretha Franklin's soul singing and Southern Baptist church songs. One would be foolish to think that church music influenced secular music for the first time in 1956.

The text for these songs is based on the Montpellier Codex from the 13th century and, as I said, are all in what I believe is an early version of French. The accompanying booklet gives all the French lyrics, plus translations of these lyrics into English and German (since the record company, harmonia mundi, is, I believe, headquartered in Germany and the recording is manufactured in Germany.

While this is the first album I have reviewed by this group (named after an anonymous 13th century English writer on music who lived and worked in Paris and wrote about the music done) I have been listening to their recordings for several years now and I decided to start with this one and leave some of the liturgical works for later, closer to the Christmas season.

On a purely visceral level, I like this recording very much. On an intellectual level, I believe this is as good or better than any other medieval pieces, and most other Renaissance vocal pieces I have heard, except for some works with larger choruses such as Guillaume Du Fay's Mass for St. Anthony of Padua and Ensemble Gilles Binchois recording of eleventh century French Polyphony.

For those who are new to Anonymous 4 recordings, they are generally done not in a studio but in the nave of a large church, so there is a distinct sense of their singing in a great open space, with little or no sense of electronic enhancement. I really like this effect for this music and find it just one more reason to recommend this and other Anonymous 4 recordings. I think my highest recommendation comes from the fact that I can listen to this recording many times over and not become tired of it. There are other unusual types of music such as Russian chants, tangos, and even jazz which I can take for an hour or so and then must change. This material I can listen to for hours on end.

Highly recommended for fans of early music or for people who want something different.

Fun and full of love.......2005-10-13

This is a wonderful collection of chansons, or songs, from medieval France. It is different from many Anonymous 4 collections in that this is a piece of secular songs, primarily dealing with courtly love; the songs are particularly influenced by the Arthurian romances, very much in vogue at that time. This is a collection of motets - a musical style that came out of polyphony and is an important bridge between chant and modern song styling.

The Montpellier Codex has over 300 different motets (not including duplications), including many double motets, where the tenor piece is based on a plainchant, and different voices have their own texts. These 'fin amours' songs were most likely performed mostly in private entertainment settings, and song have argued that certain parts should be done by instruments rather than voices. Of course, the Anonymous 4 is an a capella group, so that idea does not come into practice here.

This is a playful and fun recording, full of lovely songs that reach the heart in strong ways.

-- Liner Notes --
This text accompaniment to this disc is very full, so much so that the booklet is not contained within the jewel case, but rather within a slipcover in which both the CD/jewel case and the booklet reside. The liner notes include a description of the work, a brief piece about the quartet, and the lyrics of the songs both in original language and in translation - all repeated in English, German, and French sections (however, the French lyrics are in the older French language; a modern translation would be helpful). The cover art is a section of the lovely Tapestry, Lady and the Unicorn, Atelier of the Loire Valley, 'mille fleurs', fifteen century in the Museum of Cluny, France.

-- Anonymous 4 --
Contrary to the implication of their name, the Anonymous 4 are not anonymous. This is a vocal quartet made up of Ruth Cunningham, Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer, and Johanna Rose at the time of this recording (Ruth Cunningham will later go on to a solo career early, and another member will join - Jacqueline Horner). They came together as a formal group in 1986, and have been ensemble-in-residence at St. Michael's Church in New York City, giving concert series in New York as well as throughout North America. They have been featured a number of times on national media in North America as well as Germany. They then went on to yet more success, eventually performing more that 1000 concerts worldwide.

Their specialty is working with chant, monophonic and polyphonic music, and working with medieval texts. According to one source, 'The group takes its name from an anonymous music theorist of the late 13th century, Anonymous IV, who is the principal source on the two famous composers of the Notre Dame school, Léonin and Pérotin.'

The group ended a touring career of nearly two decades in 2004.

from a newcomer viewpoint.......2003-02-23

LOVE'S ILLUSION is one of those uncanny instances that make tradition more unusual than avant-garde. Having two to four texts in an archaic language sung on top of each other makes the album at once chaotic and highly ordered. Some texts were clearly written after one another (cf. track 24), whereas others have but a random connection. Harmonically, however, everything falls into place.
I'm still fairly new to classical music, so I can only speak of my attempts at overcoming my difficulties in listening to mediaeval polyphony. When one knows any piece of music has a text, one wants to be able to hear the words - even if one doesn't know the language -, and this is main reason why a first listening of LOVE'S ILLUSION may be disturbing, if not annoying. One initial solution is to think of it as instrumental, and take the words for granted; I suggest also repeated listening of your favorite tracks, while trying to follow one singer's voice, with booklet in hand. I have paid some attention to this record and I believe it has helped me.
The major flaw of this record is not presenting a translation of the 13th century French songs into contemporary French. The difference is indeed quite astounding.

Love's Illusion.......2002-12-11

Overall: Monotonous, irritating. I had a headache after only three cuts, and the cut I really wanted is barely recognizable as the melody of interest. Let's just say that this is a sound (i.e., all female vocals, no instrumental variety), regardless of performers, that I do not go looking for.

OUTSTANDING.......2001-01-11

This is an excellent recording of some of the most beautiful music from the 13th Century. The vocal quartet "Anonymous 4" does a superb job, especially considering the entire CD is sung in Old French. This may well be the most peaceful and reaxing CD you will ever own.

Average customer rating: Refined Rameau Ravishing Overall really good, but lacking in some areas more please...

Alexandre Tharaud plays Rameau Jean-Philippe Rameau , Claude Debussy , and Alexandre Tharaud Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Concertos italiens A Basket of Wild Strawberries: A Selection of Keyboard Works by Jean-Philippe Rameau Chopin Valses (Waltzes) Tic, Toc, Choc Ravel: L'Oeuvre pour piano ASIN: B00005QAGJ Release Date: 2002-02-12

Customer Reviews:

Refined Rameau.......2007-03-28

After reviewing the recent Angela Hewitt Rameau recording, a fellow reviewer brought this disc to my attention and bestowed enormous praise on it. After repeated listening, the Rameau and especially the Debussy encore leave a bit to be desired and overshadow this beautifully recorded recital, despite its many Ramellian virtues.

Before starting this review let me quote the back of this cd.

Until very recently pianists no longer dared play the French harpsichord repertoire: the pertinence of the "authentic" performances on period instruments by new artists had established their claims - and we had decided once and for all that this music was unsuited to today's pianos... Hence Alexandre Tharaud's approach is both brave and original: this young man is equally indebted to the legendary recordings of Marcelle Mayer and to current interpretations on the harpsichord.

I am sorry, but this is just ridiculous.

a) Musicology is an entirely "soft science". Actually, to use an Oscar Wildism, it has minimal ground to dispel the notion that it is little more than a collection of bad habits. Thus, it ends up being little more than a matter of public opinion. On the one hand public opinion should have no influence whatsoever on artists. They may not end up selling too much, but serve art's purpose of showing all things anew. On the other, having followed the authentic movement for thirty years and having heard the evolution from unbearably poor performances to halfway decent ones that at times approach the professional level, "authentic" should be qualified in a standard fashion as is now du riguer for "organic".

b) Many of us have access to all kind of keyboards, few to expensive and bothersome harpsichords. As such, mandating harpsichord performance would ban the great majority of players from playing and enjoying Rameau and colleagues. This would in fact censor Rameau and equate to cultural elitism.

Up to Tharaud.

Tharaud is a highly skilled pianist. He has made a very good recording of Ravel's complete piano works and a musical, though somewhat romantic and at times unstructured Bach album. His Rameau appears a labor of love involving years of study, a reassessment of the interpretation of the French baroque on the piano and a careful choice of the recording instrument.

Let's start with the discs strengths Tharaud is technically flawless and very musical. Together with the use of the piano that is in many ways superior to the harpsichord his approach results in a highly sophisticated and differentiated performances, that outdo most of his colleagues who play the nail box.

Yet there are some weaknesses. To me Tharaud has not found his own personal solution to playing harpsichord music on the piano, this in contrast to the likes of Gould, Sokolov and Hewitt. What he does here is come as close to the harpsichord as possible, only here and there deviating in right pedaled closing arpeggiated flourishes. Gould, in his video "the choice of instrument" discusses "how much of the piano to use", to me and especially in the light of the great importance of color in Rameau, Tharaud explores his instrument's possibilities too little. Unintentionally, this results in a slightly over-romantic approach, that is fortunately less distracting here than in his Bach disc.

Secondly, and far more importantly is Tharaud's underplay of the counterpoint and drama of these pieces. Counterpoint aims to increase the tension over pure melodic and melody + accompaniment approaches. To me this disc is devoid of drama. This is too bad because a combination of the strengths of this pianist and composer could lead to the Himalayan heights that the likes of Sokolov (Couperin on Live in Paris DVD) and John Williams (Couperin, Les Barricades..., The Baroque Album) have reached.

While I still consider Tharaud's Rameau still in the five star area, his Debussy was a great let down. Here, the pianist's lack of exploring the haunting dialetic between the Image's themes leads to a rather shallow affair. Compare this with the likes of Gieseking, Casadesus and last but not least Michelangeli, that are able to do so much more with this beautiful piece. In addition, the piano of choice may be appropriate for Rameau, but lacks significantly when it comes to Debussy.

In all, a strong disc with a few weaknesses.

Ravishing .......2005-12-11

Rameau is invariably enjoyable, whether on original instruments, modern forces, indeed synthesizer (let's not forget Bob James' fun, respectful and serious work), or, as in this case, M. Tharaud's piano. Like many, I came to Rameau's music as a musically formed adult, one could say "late." However, once I did, it opened windows to so many beauties, instrumental and vocal, that I regret not having its company earlier. Of course, all this happened quite a while back, though one remains thankful to the likes of William Christie, Christophe Rousset, J.E. Gardiner, etc. who have shown us so many facets of Rameau.

The same feeling of a new musical awareness being awakened in me can be ascribed to my response to this miraculous recording of two of Rameau's harpsichord suites by Alexandre Tharaud on a glorious Steinway. Listen to the opening Allemand of the Suite in A, the first track on the CD. The musical lines always stand out, on secure, inner rhythmic momentum, with embelishments truly beautifying the line, and the counterpoint colored throughout by the magic of Mr. Tharaud's touch and pedaling. This is perhaps the most sensual piano recording I own. That it sounds shaped by great intellectual rigor and intense discipline adds to the pleasure. This is a CD to which I return as if to a bottle of exquisite, rich Burgundy, afraid it will run out..... fortunately, it just keeps giving.

M. Tharaud has also successfully recorded Ravel's complete solo piano music, Milhaud, Poulenc, Schubert and now Bach. He ends the Rameau CD with Debussy's "Hommage à Rameau" which makes one wish for a recording of the Preludes not too far in the future.

Overall really good, but lacking in some areas.......2003-02-23

Tharaud's Rameau is for the most part excellent, but I felt that something was lacking. His playing in some places seemed restrained and timid to my ears. This is music that is full of rhythmic vigor, and it doesn't always come through in Tharaud's playing. His ornaments are beautiful and accurate...something that is not altogether easy to transfer from the harpsichord to the piano. I quite enjoyed his 'Gavotte and Six Doubles' (a piece I play, by the way). He does some things I've not heard in other interpretations, which were fairly interesting. If you like Rameau's keyboard music and already have the recordings of Meyer, Sokolov, Casadesus, Cziffra, etc., then this would probably be a welcome addition to your collection. If you are new to his keyboard music, you may want to listen to some of the names mentioned previously before getting this.

more please..........2002-02-20

There are frightfully few recordings of Rameau on the piano. This is one of them, and it is delightful. Mordecai Shehori also has an excellent recording of Rameau music on the piano. If you have enjoyed listening to Bach on the piano, I think you'll enjoy this flavor of Baroque music. The music can be haunting and introspective and interestingly, colors emerge that one might not have thought if you are familiar with the harpsichord incarnation of the music. If you are a pianist, it will probably give you some ideas for new repertoire.
The recording quality is good -- and I find myself easily relistening to this recording.

Average customer rating: Excellent, but What Are the Words? outstanding collection Awesome 7.5 hours of superb music at a most reasonable price.

Les tres riches heures du Moyen Age: A Medieval Journey Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Machaut | Machaut, Guillaume de | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Sacred & Religious | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems Vocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems Sacred & Religious | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Madrigals | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Perotin / The Hilliard Ensemble ASIN: B00000074R Release Date: 1995-11-21

Tracks:

1. 1. By Way Of A Preamble: Byzantine Chant: Alleluia - Tropaire de la venue de l'epoux (Lundi Saint) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
2. 1. By Way Of A Preamble: Byzantine Chant: Exapostilarion de l'Office de Mardi Saint: Version arabe - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
3. 1. By Way Of A Preamble: Byzantine Chant: Exapostilarion de l'Office de Mardi Saint: Version grecque - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
4. 1. By Way Of A Preamble: Byzantine Chant: Exapostilarion de l'Office de Mardi Saint - Version arabe - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
5. 1. By Way Of A Preamble: Chants sacres Melchites (IV siecle): Hymne a la Vierge (Liturgie grecque de saint Jean Chrysostome) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
6. 1. By Way Of A Preamble: Chants sacres Melchites (IV siecle): Office de la Nativite de la Mere de Dieu (Grand Canon de saint Jean Damascene) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
7. 2. Monody Before Gregorian Chant: Chants de l'Eglise de Milanaise: Psaume: 'Tecum principium in die virtutis tue'' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
8. 2. Monody Before Gregorian Chant: Chants de l'Eglise de Milanaise: Responsorium: 'Congratulamini mihi omnes qui diligitis Dominum'' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
9. 2. Monody Before Gregorian Chant: Le Chant Beneventain: Communio: 'Qui manducaverit' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
10. 2. Monody Before Gregorian Chant: Les Chants de l'Eglise de Rome (VII-VIII siecles): Introit 'Resurrexi' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
11. 2. Monody Before Gregorian Chant: Les Chants de l'Eglise de Rome (VII-VIII siecles): Office de l'Adoration de la Croix; Improperes: 'Agios o Theos, Sanctus Deus' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
12. 2. Monody Before Gregorian Chant: Le Chant Mozarabe: Cathedrale de Tolded: Sacrificium 'Vox clamantis' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY

Tracks:

1. 1. Gallican Chant: Versus de l'eveque Theodulfe d'Orleans: 'Gloria laus' - Deller Consort
2. 1. Gallican Chant: Semaine Sainte: repons du 7 mode: 'Tenebrae factae sunt' - Deller Consort
3. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Introit: 'Requiem aeternam' - Deller Consort
4. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Kyrie eleison - Deller Consort
5. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Graduel 'Requiem aeternam' - Deller Consort
6. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Trait: 'Absolve, Domine' - Deller Consort
7. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Sequence: 'Dies irae' - Deller Consort
8. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Offertoire: 'Domine Jesu Christe' - Deller Consort
9. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Sanctus - Deller Consort
10. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Agnus Dei - Deller Consort
11. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Communion: 'Lux aeterna' - Deller Consort
12. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Repons: 'Libera me' - Deller Consort
13. 2. An Immense Corpus: Missa da Requiem Gregorienne: Antienne: 'In paradisum' - Deller Consort
14. 2. An Immense Corpus: Planctus Hugonis Abbatis: 'Hug dulce nomen' pour la mort d'Hugues, fils de Charlemagne, en 844 - Deller Consort
15. 3. The Aquitaine Tradition, Or The Problem Of Notation: Antiphona ad processionem: 'O beata infantia' - Schola Hungarica
16. 3. The Aquitaine Tradition, Or The Problem Of Notation: Introitus cum tropis: 'Quam queritis in praesepe - Puer natus est' - Schola Hungarica
17. 3. The Aquitaine Tradition, Or The Problem Of Notation: Alleluja 'Dies sanctificatus' - Schola Hungarica
18. 3. The Aquitaine Tradition, Or The Problem Of Notation: Communio cum tropis: 'Desinat esse dolor - Viderunt Omnes' - Schola Hungarica
19. 3. The Aquitaine Tradition, Or The Problem Of Notation: Alleluia cum tropis in octava - Schola Hungarica
20. 3. The Aquitaine Tradition, Or The Problem Of Notation: Cantio ad laudem cantoris: 'Annus novus in gaudio' - Schola Hungarica
21. 4. The Cistercian Exception: Repons de Matines pour la fete de Saint Bernard: Virtute multa - Ensemble Organum
22. 4. The Cistercian Exception: Repons de Matines pour la fete de Saint Bernard: In timore Dei - Ensemble Organum
23. 4. The Cistercian Exception: Repons de Matines pour la fete de Saint Bernard: 'Testamentum eternum' - Ensemble Organum
24. 4. The Cistercian Exception: Repons de Matines pour la fete de Saint Bernard: 'Dedit Dominus confessionem sancto suo' - Ensemble Organum

Tracks:

1. The Art Of The Troubadours: A l'entrada del temps clar - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
2. The Art Of The Troubadours: Vida - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
3. The Art Of The Troubadours: Quand vei la laudeta mover - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
4. The Art Of The Troubadours: Vida - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
5. The Art Of The Troubadours: Sitot me soi - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
6. Cantigas de Santa Maria: Cantiga 77 (Flute a bec et percussion) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
7. Cantigas de Santa Maria: Prologue: 'Porque Trobar' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
8. Cantigas de Santa Maria: Cantiga 37 (Flute de berger et zarb) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
9. Cantigas de Santa Maria: Cantiga 7: 'Santa Maria leva' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
10. Cantigas de Santa Maria: Cantiga 100: 'Santa Maria, strela do dia' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
11. Carmina Burana (XIII siecle): 'Bacche, bene venies' (CB 200) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
12. Carmina Burana (XIII siecle): 'In taberna quando sumus' (CB 196) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
13. Carmina Burana (XIII siecle): 'Axe Phebus aureo' (CB 71) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
14. Carmina Burana (XIII siecle): 'Deduc Syon, uberrimas' (CB 34) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
15. Carmina Burana (XIII siecle): 'Flete flenda' (CB 5) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
16. Les Minnesanger: 'Sinc an, guldin huon!' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
17. Les Minnesanger: Ich lobe ein wip (Instr.) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
18. Les Minnesanger: 'Owe dirre not' - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY
19. Les Minnesanger: Wol auff, gesell (Instr.) - MEDIEVAL JOURNEY

Tracks:

1. 1. 12th Century Polyphony In Aquitaine: 'Domine labia mea aperies' - 'Deus in adjutorium meum' (Choeur) - Ensemble Organum
2. 1. 12th Century Polyphony In Aquitaine: Versus: 'O primus homo coruit' (a 2 voix) - Ensemble Organum
3. 1. 12th Century Polyphony In Aquitaine: Versus: 'Veri solis radium' (a 2 voix) - Ensemble Organum
4. 2. The Notre-Dame School: Messe du Jour de noel (XIII siecle) - Excerpts: Introit trope: 'Puer natus est' - Ensemble Organum
5. 2. The Notre-Dame School: Messe du Jour de noel (XIII siecle) - Excerpts: Kyrie - Ensemble Organum
6. 2. The Notre-Dame School: Messe du Jour de noel (XIII siecle) - Excerpts: Graduel: 'Viderunt omnes' - Ensemble Organum
7. 2. The Notre-Dame School: Messe du Jour de noel (XIII siecle) - Excerpts: Sanctus (organum) - Ensemble Organum
8. 2. The Notre-Dame School: Messe du Jour de noel (XIII siecle) - Excerpts: Agnus Dei - Ensemble Organum
9. 2. The Notre-Dame School: Messe du Jour de noel (XIII siecle) - Excerpts: Ite missa est - Deo Gratias - Ensemble Organum
10. 3. The Gradual Of Eleanor Of Brittany - A Particular Practice Of Polyphony: Kyrie 'Orbis factor' - Ensemble Organum
11. 3. The Gradual Of Eleanor Of Brittany - A Particular Practice Of Polyphony: Credo in unum Deum - Ensemble Organum
12. 3. The Gradual Of Eleanor Of Brittany - A Particular Practice Of Polyphony: Sequence: 'Res est admirabilis' - Ensemble Organum
13. 4. The Motets From The Montpellier Codex, Jewels Of The Ars Antiqua: Plus bele que flor - Quant revient - L'autrier joer - Flos Filius - Anonymous 4
14. 4. The Motets From The Montpellier Codex, Jewels Of The Ars Antiqua: Puisque bele dame m'eime - Flos Filius - Anonymous 4
15. 4. The Motets From The Montpellier Codex, Jewels Of The Ars Antiqua: Celui en qui - La bele estoile - La bele, en qui - Iohanne - Anonymous 4
16. 4. The Motets From The Montpellier Codex, Jewels Of The Ars Antiqua: Amor potest - Ad amorem sequitur - Anonymous 4
17. 4. The Motets From The Montpellier Codex, Jewels Of The Ars Antiqua: S'on me regarde - Prennes i garde - He, mi enfant - Anonymous 4
18. 4. The Motets From The Montpellier Codex, Jewels Of The Ars Antiqua: Qui d'amour se plaint - Lux Magna - Anonymous 4
19. 4. The Motets From The Montpellier Codex, Jewels Of The Ars Antiqua: On doit fin(e) Amor - La biaute - In Seculum - Anonymous 4
20. 5. An English Ladymass In Salisbury Cathedral (13th Century): Kyrie: 'Kyria christifera' - Anonymous 4
21. 5. An English Ladymass In Salisbury Cathedral (13th Century): Gloria - Anonymous 4
22. 5. An English Ladymass In Salisbury Cathedral (13th Century): Sanctus - Benedictus - Anonymous 4
23. 5. An English Ladymass In Salisbury Cathedral (13th Century): Agnus Dei: 'Virtute numinis' - Anonymous 4

Tracks:

1. 1. Le Roman de Fauvel (1310-1316): In mari miserie - Clemencic Consort
2. 1. Le Roman de Fauvel (1310-1316): Vers 149 a 168 - Clemencic Consort
3. 1. Le Roman de Fauvel (1310-1316): Ad solitum vomitum - Clemencic Consort
4. 1. Le Roman de Fauvel (1310-1316): Porchier miex estre. Vers 250 a 280 - Clemencic Consort
5. 1. Le Roman de Fauvel (1310-1316): J'ai fait nouveletement - Clemencic Consort
6. 1. Le Roman de Fauvel (1310-1316): Quoniam secta latronum - Clemencic Consort
7. 1. Le Roman de Fauvel (1310-1316): Vers 5905-5926 - Mario, virgo viginum - Clemencic Consort
8. 1. Le Roman de Fauvel (1310-1316): Vers 6023-6050 - Clemencic Consort
9. 1. Le Roman de Fauvel (1310-1316): Quare fremuerunt - Clemencic Consort
10. 2. La Messe de Tournai (c.1330-40) - Excerpts: Kyrie - Ensemble Organum
11. 2. La Messe de Tournai (c.1330-40) - Excerpts: Gloria in excelsis Deo - Ensemble Organum
12. 2. La Messe de Tournai (c.1330-40) - Excerpts: Sanctus - Ensemble Organum
13. 2. La Messe de Tournai (c.1330-40) - Excerpts: Agnus Dei - Ensemble Organum
14. 3. The Chansons Of The French And Italian Ars Nova: 'De toutes flours' - Ensemble Organum
15. 3. The Chansons Of The French And Italian Ars Nova: 'Honte, paour, doubtance' - Ensemble Organum
16. 3. The Chansons Of The French And Italian Ars Nova: 'Honte, paour, doubtance', version instrumentale - Ensemble Organum
17. 3. The Chansons Of The French And Italian Ars Nova: 'Che pena e quest'al cor' - Ensemble Organum
18. 3. The Chansons Of The French And Italian Ars Nova: 'Imperiale sendendo fra pi stelle' - Ensemble Organum
19. 3. The Chansons Of The French And Italian Ars Nova: Rondeau-canon 'Tout par compas' - Ensemble Organum
20. 3. The Chansons Of The French And Italian Ars Nova: Rondeau 'Belle, bonne, sage' - Ensemble Organum
21. 3. The Chansons Of The French And Italian Ars Nova: Rondeau 'Fumeux fume par fumee' - Ensemble Organum
22. 3. The Chansons Of The French And Italian Ars Nova: Ballade 'On voit tout' - Ensemble Organum
23. Sacred Music In 14th Century England: 'Campanis cum cymbalis - Honoremus Dominam' - The Hilliard Ensemble
24. Sacred Music In 14th Century England: 'Mater ora filium' - The Hilliard Ensemble
25. Sacred Music In 14th Century England: 'Edi be thu' - The Hilliard Ensemble
26. Sacred Music In 14th Century England: 'Gabriel From Heven-King' - The Hilliard Ensemble
27. Sacred Music In 14th Century England: 'Gaude virgo Mater Christi' - The Hilliard Ensemble

Tracks:

1. Johannes Ciconia (c. 1335-1414): 'Ligiadra donna' pour vielles - The Newberry Consort
2. 1. 15th Century English Music: Les Carols: Alleluya: 'A Nywe werke' - Anonymous 4
3. 1. 15th Century English Music: Les Carols: 'Ecce quod natura' - Anonymous 4
4. 1. 15th Century English Music: Les Carols: Nowel: 'Owt Of Your Slepe Aryse' - Anonymous 4
5. 1. 15th Century English Music: Les Carols: 'Anna Mater Matris Christi' - The Hilliard Ensemble
6. 1. 15th Century English Music: Les Carols: 'Tota pulcra es, amica mea' - The Hilliard Ensemble
7. 1. 15th Century English Music: 15th Century Marial Polyphony: Conduit 'O Maria stella maris' - Anonymous 4
8. 1. 15th Century English Music: 15th Century Marial Polyphony: Sequence 'Salve virgo singularis' - Anonymous 4
9. 1. 15th Century English Music: 15th Century Marial Polyphony: Motet 'Veni mater gracie - Dou Way, Robin' - Anonymous 4
10. 2. The Emergence Of Specifically Instrumental Music: Musicue instrumentale a la Cour d'Espagne: 'Propinan de Melyor' - The Newberry Consort
11. 2. The Emergence Of Specifically Instrumental Music: Musicue instrumentale a la Cour d'Espagne: --sans titre - The Newberry Consort
12. 2. The Emergence Of Specifically Instrumental Music: Musicue instrumentale a la Cour d'Espagne: 'La Spagna' - The Newberry Consort
13. 2. The Emergence Of Specifically Instrumental Music: Musicue instrumentale a la Cour d'Espagne: 'La Spagna' - The Newberry Consort
14. 3. Johannes Ockeghem (c. 1420-1497) - Requiem - Excerpts: Introit. 'Requiem eternam dona eis Domine' - Ensemble Organum
15. 3. Johannes Ockeghem (c. 1420-1497) - Requiem - Excerpts: Kyrie - Ensemble Organum
16. 3. Johannes Ockeghem (c. 1420-1497) - Requiem - Excerpts: Tractus: 'Sicut servus desideral ad fontes aquarum' - Ensemble Organum
17. 3. Johannes Ockeghem (c. 1420-1497) - Requiem - Excerpts: Sanctus - Ensemble Organum
18. Lute Music: Ricercar 'L'autre jour' - Paul O'Dette
19. Lute Music: 'Nous bergiers' - Paul O'Dette
20. Lute Music: Ricercar No. 33 - Paul O'Dette
21. Lute Music: 'Il est bel et bon' - Paul O'Dette

Customer Reviews:

Excellent, but What Are the Words?.......2006-07-04

This is a wonderful collection of music spanning many centuries, some of which you are unlikely to encounter anywhere else. The performances are beautiful, too. The one drawback is that the liner notes contain very few song text translations, a big problem for a large CD set with music that is primarily vocal.

outstanding collection.......2002-09-27

I have quite a number of CDs with Medieval Age polyphony, byzantine chant and renaissance music, but this collection goes beyond what could usually be expected from such boxsets. I'd highly recommend it to all.

Awesome.......2001-09-20

This is the best collection of medieval music I have ever heard. The performances are top-notch, and all of the songs are well done. I highly reccomend this collection not only for fans of medieval music, but for any music lover.

7.5 hours of superb music at a most reasonable price........1999-12-24

There isn't a clunker in this set. All the performers are top drawer and the recordings are good. The notes are a little brief and a bit scholarly, but can be ignored easily.

You will get an idea of the different kinds of medieval music as well as the top groups and soloists working currently in the field.

When I got this set, my mother and I listened to all 7+ hours straight through. We then started buying CDs from the different performers we had to hear more from.

At twice the price, this would still be an excellent addition to any classical or medieval music collection, as well as the best introduction to medieval music around.

Average customer rating: SEMI-SEPHARDIC HEAVEN Brilliant

Music for Alfonso the Wise Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: A Dance in the Garden of Mirth: Medieval Instrumental Music - The Dufay Collective The Dufay Collective:Miri It Is Cancionero: Music for the Spanish Court 1470-1520 Cancionero Istanpitta: Musiques de Fête à la Cour des Visconti ASIN: B0006Z2LLU Release Date: 2005-01-11

Tracks:

1. Muit, Amar
2. Ontre Todalas
3. Tant Aos Peccadores
4. Todo Los Santos
5. Que Muyto Meu Pago
6. Quen A Virgen
7. Bailemos Nos Ja Todas Tres
8. Dansa: Bailemos Nos Ja Todas Tres
9. Martin Jograr
10. Macar E Door
11. Non Soffre Santa Maria
12. Ondas Do Mare De Vigo
13. Mandad' Ei Comigo
14. Mia Irmana Fremosa
15. Interlude
16. Ay Deus Se Sab' Ora Meu Amigo
17. Quantas Sabedes Amar
18. Interlude/Eno Sagrado En Vigo
19. Ai Ondas Que Eu Vin Veer

Customer Reviews:

SEMI-SEPHARDIC HEAVEN.......2007-02-15

This record is new to me, as is most music of this type, from this era. I've a taste for middle-eastern music, both Islamic and otherwise -- including Hindu -- and am wild about most Hungarian and Slavic music. The frankly Sephardic music I've heard I find rapturous and profoundly satisfying. This music of EL SABIO fits into that category, easily, and the musicality of the performers is distinctive in the best way.

A new favorite has appeared on my shelves.

Brilliant.......2006-08-02

This compilation is dedicated to the works and compositions of Alfonso X, 13th century King of Castile and Leon, and a Renaissance man long before the concept of Renaissance had even been conceived. Alfonso was responsible for a tremendous period of advancement in learning in medieval Europe, and was a remarkable scholar and composer in his own right. At a time when the Bishop of Paris enjoyed a library of only four volumes, Alfonso had sponsored a library in Castile with over 30,000, collecting the works Christians, Muslims and Jews into one massive complex devoted to learning and freedom of thought. In this latter vein, Alfonso was also a competent astrologer, and, some say, adept of the esoteric Art. Irrespective of this, he was ill favored by the Church, predominantly due to his tolerance of the Muslims and Jews, with whom the Christian residents of Castile lived in harmony in contrast to the balance of the known world of the day.

DuFay Collective are, in a word, brilliant, basically the Pink Martini of the music of the period. Their music never fails to transport you back in time. In this collaboration with the 13th century Castilian King, they have produced a phenomenal, almost mystical album, whose compositions are highly reminiscent of those of Hildegard von Bingen, and the evocative and mystical harmony of the album Diadema, by Vox.

Of all of the works by DuFay to date, this is, by far, my favorite. It takes the mind and soul to other places. It is truly a masterpiece, and a collaborative effort across 700 years between an enlightened King at the end of the Dark Ages, and master performers of medieval music in modern times.

Average customer rating: At times, great and at other times...well... er..... Monteverdi used 'cornets'?!

Monteverdi - Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi / Concerto Köln, Jacobs Salomé Haller , Maria Cristina Kiehr , Jeremy Ovenden , and Concerto Köln Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Josquin Desprez: Missa Fortuna Desperata Monteverdi: Selva morale e spirituale Messe de Notre Dame (Guillaume de Machaut)/ Ensemble Organum (Marcel Peres) Hildegard von Bingen: O Jerusalem Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Il Giardino armonico ASIN: B00006L7TB Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

1. Altri Canti D'Amore, Tenero Arciero
2. Hor Che 'L Ciel E La Terra E 'L Vento Tace
3. Gira Il Nemico Insidioso Amore
4. Se Vittorie Si Belle
5. Armato Il Cor D'adamantina Fede
6. Ogni Amante E Guerrier: Nel Suo Gran Regno
7. Ardo, Avvampo
8. Il Combattimento Di Tancredi E Clorinda
9. Introdutione Al Ballo E Ballo
10. Altri Canti Di Marte E Di Sua Schiera

Tracks:

1. Vago Augelletto
2. Mentre Vaga Angioletta
3. Ardo E Scoprir, Ahi Lasso, Io Non Ardisco
4. O Sia Tranquillo Il Mare O Pien D'orgoglio
5. Ninfa Che, Scalza Il Piede
6. Dolcissimo Uscignolo
7. Chi Vol Haver Felice E Lieto Il Core
8. Lamento Della Ninfa. Non Havea Febo Ancora
9. Perche Ten Fuggi, O Fillide
10. Non Partir, Ritrosetta
11. Su, Su, Su, Pastorelli Vezzosi
12. De L'implacabil Dio
13. Udite, Donne, Udite!
14. Bella Madre D'Amor
15. Ecco Ver Noi L'addolorate Squadre
16. Ahi Troppo Ahi Troppo E Duro!

Amazon.com

You might think that two-and-a-half hours of Monteverdi madrigals would become tiresome or repetitive, but think again: here is a composer whose ability to combine voices and instruments (actually, it's conductor Rene Jacobs who, for the most part, has chosen the instruments, which include strings, trombones, cornets, organ, and percussion--brilliantly, colorfully, and dramatically) became greater as he aged, and these are among his latest works. Some pieces are long and dramatic, indeed, operatic: Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda is sung to us by baritone Victor Torres with such urgency that it might be compared with an old Orson Welles radio drama. The subtitle of the collection—"Madrigals of War and Love"--really tells it all; fascinatingly, the warring within a lover's breast is just as passionate as true battle. The texts, some by such luminaries as Petrarch and Tasso are as worthy as the music, and Monteverdi's great gift--his ability to wed words to music--is in evidence in all of these works. Emotions run from self-pity to adoration to rage, and Jacobs and his band of singers--every one a virtuoso--make each come to life. Their technical skill, comprising seemingly endless breath, stunning legato, and every embellishment known to the Renaissance and Baroque, is matched by the loveliness and expressive quality of their tone. This is a perfect collection, ravishingly conceived, recorded, and performed. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

At times, great and at other times...well... er............2003-08-27

First things first.
'Cornet', with a single T, is a perfectly acceptable spelling of the word for the Baroque cornetto - cornett, cornetta, cornèta, Kornett, cornet à bouquin, corno, cornio, Zink, Zinge, Zinggen and Recht Chor-Zink (et cetera) are all historical variations. The spelling with the single T was the original spelling - the double T spelling was adopted in the 20th century to save confusion with the cornett's modern brass band name sake.

Okay! So what's this CD like?
Well, its pretty good and much of it is very good. The music is 'orchestrated' with cornet(t)s, trombones, a dulcian and percussion - as well as the violins, viols and continuo mentioned by the composer. Maybe René Jacobs is suggesting that this music might have been performed like this for an aristocratic audience? Maybe, maybe not, however, Monteverdi and/or his publisher only suggest strings and continuo in the instrumental forces needed to perform this music. The cornetts and sackbuts sound splendid in madrigals like 'Altri canti d'Amor' even if their inclusion would have surprised Claudio Monteverdi! The string and continuo groups play very well and very idiomatically.

This brings us to the question of the voices used. Some of the singers are simply too operatic in their approach for this kind of music. One of the tenors sings in a highly charged way that would not be out of place in 19th century Italian opera. Bernarda Fink, as usual, uses too much vibrato - more than one would reasonably expect in a modern performance of Mozart or, indeed, Verdi - let alone Monteverdi! However, there is some great singing here, too - Maria Cristina Kiehr is an excellent Monteverdian. When the voices all sing together, as in 'Altri Canti d'Amore', the voices tend to jar and there is little sense of ensemble. We are presented with a group of not terribly compatible soloists singing together rather than a traditional madrigal vocal ensemble. Of course, this is my response to this recording and others may be delighted with this approach.

This is the first truly complete L'ottavo libro de madrigali available in one set on two CDs and for that reason it is a worthy introduction to this music.

Alessandrini's group and Anthony Rooley's The Consort of Musicke have also recorded these works and I have enjoyed all these different interpretations. Jacobs can be perverse and wayward in his interpretations but he can also make the music sing and dance like no one else. I will continue to enjoy most of his opera recordings and most of this madrigal set.

Monteverdi used 'cornets'?!.......2003-04-02

Though I have not listened to this particular CD of Monteverdi's Madrigali guerrieri et amoroso, I'm certain that cornets, the modern small brass instrument used in marching bands would not be appropriate. A cornett (or cornetti) the Renaissance wind instrument, made of wood and covered in leather, was used by Monteverdi, and would be quite appropriate, and I think that is what is being used in the CD.

Average customer rating:

Lusty Gallant: England's Golden Age Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Baroque Dance Suites | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music | Allemandes | Courantes | Gigue | Sarabande Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Byrd, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Variations | Variations | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: The King's Noyse, dir. David Douglass: Royal Delight: 17th Century Ballads & Dances Early Sixteenth Century Venetian Lute Music English Lute Duets John Johnson: Lute Music Molinaro: Fantasia/Canzoni E Balli ASIN: B00099FVCE Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

1. I Cannot Keepe My Wyfe At Howme
2. Up Tails All
3. The Spanish Pavane
4. Robin Hoode
5. John Com Kisse Me Now
6. Chromatica Pavana
7. Galliard
8. Sueit Smyling Katie Loves Me
9. Put On Your Sark On Monenday
10. Buckinghames Branle
11. The LaydieLouthians Lilte
12. La Volta
13. Wolsey's Wilde
14. Pavana Bray
15. Galiarda
16. Will Yow Walke The Woods Soe wylde
17. My Lord Willoughbies Welcom Home
18. Pavin
19. Galliard
20. Lusty Gallant
21. A Ground
22. Home Again, Market Is Done
23. Trenchmore
24. Mall Symes

Tracks:

1. 'En Me Revenant
2. Courante
3. Courante 'Son Adieu'
4. Courante Sur 'J'avois Brise Mes Fers'
5. Chacogne
6. 'Filou'
7. Prelude
8. Fantasie
9. Galliard Upon A Galliard
10. Pavin
11. Almaine
12. Fantasia
13. Fantasia Sopra 'La Canzon Degli Ucelli'
14. Fantasia
15. Fantasia
16. Fantasie
17. Ballet
18. Courante
19. Courante Sur La Courante De Perrichon
20. Sarabande
21. Fantasia
22. Sarabrand
23. Pavin
24. Courante
25. Courante
26. Courante
27. 'La Jeune Fillette'
28. Paven Of The Composition Of Mee Herbet Of Cherbury And Castle Island 1640

Average customer rating: Brimming with exuberance Magnificent Medieval Music Masterful

Gautier de Coincy: Miracles of Notre Dame Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: El arte de fantasía Les Travailleurs de la Mer: Ancient Songs from a Small Island Fire-Water: The Spirit of Renaissance Spain Spanish Dances Villancicos y Danzas Criollas ASIN: B00008K4FR Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

1. Cui Donrai Je Mes Amours
2. Amours Qui Bien Set Enchanter (Instrumental)
3. Hui Matin A L'ajournee
4. Douce Dame (Instrumental)
5. Ma Viele
6. Efforcier M'Estuet Ma Voiz (Instrumental)
7. Cui Donrai Je Mes Amours
8. Quant Ces Flouretes Florir Voi (Instrumental)
9. Puisque Voi La Fleur Novele
10. D'une amour Quoie Et Serie (Instrumental)
11. Conductus: De La Sainte Leocade
12. Talenz M'est Pris Orendroit (Instrumental)
13. Pour Dieu Traiez Vous En La (Instrumental)
14. Conductus: Hyer Matin A L'enjornee
15. Motet: Hyer Matin/Benedicamus Domino
16. Ja Pour Yver
17. Amours Dont Sui Espris (Instrumental)
18. Royne Celestre
19. Conductus: S'amours Dont Sui Espris
20. Entendez Tuit Ensemble

Amazon.com

Thirteenth-century troubador Gautier de Coincy's blend of mystical religious poetry and the popular tunes to which he set his poems proves irresistible, especially in the Harp Consort's lively renditions. Given the nature of the material, the sheer variety of rhythms, sounds, and colors on this disc is astounding; the vocal soloists are all excellent, the small chorus adept, captivating when it sings in the gutsy peasant style at appropriate moments. Eight purely instrumental numbers are sprinkled throughout the 20 tracks, each a gem, full of colorful effects from the rich-sounding shawm and other period instruments like bagpipe, vielle, and a variety of percussion instruments that thump and shimmer in ways that make you want to dance. Pleasure is enhanced by Harmonia Mundi's deluxe presentation: absorbing notes, texts, and translations in readable type, and handsome cardboard packaging. Best of all, you-are-there engineering helps transport you back through time. This is a don't-miss disc! --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Brimming with exuberance.......2005-12-24

Every recording by Andrew Lawrence-King is something of an event. Few recording artists in the Medieval-Renaissance Music field produce such consistently instantly fascinating sounds as he does. In fact he deserves to have something of a cult following both amongst general music listeners (I mean people who would usually never listen to mainstream Classical Music) as well as Early Music afficianados. If you have never listened to Medieval Music in your life this would be a fine place to start for there are pieces here that will have you dancing on your table out of sheer exuberance.

Les Miracles de Notre-Dames were the creation of Gautier de Coincy in the early 1200's. The songs are all based on trouvére love poetry - applied not to courtly love but to the Virgin Mary.

Instruments on display here include medieval harps, cornetto, vielle, shawn, organetto, psaltery, bagpipes as well as vocal parts. The spirit of the music is far from that of plain chant, rather being sometimes closer to that of 'pagan excesses of peasant celebrations' as the excellent liner notes describe it. The church simply took in these popular trends and transformed them into more respectable Marian music.

Another triumph by Andrew Lawrence-King. Enthusiastically recommended!

Magnificent Medieval Music.......2004-03-22

I was first exposed to Medieval and Renaissance Music when I took a course for musical illiterates in college. We could not read music, but we could listen. Being exposed to only popular music, it suprised me how much I loved ancient music. I have collected many recordings of this music over the last 30 years. Miracles of Notre-Dame is absolutely the best recording of music in the troubadour tradition that I have ever heard. Of course, you would not expect anything less than a magnificent product from Harmonia Mundi. I have played this recording repeatedely. It is not a CD you will put aside and listen to months later. If you have any interest in music of this time, you must have this. The singing. the playing, the music are not to be missed.

Masterful.......2004-01-26

Even if secular medieval music is NOT one of your favorites genres, the energy and mystical beauty of this CD shines throughout all 20 tracks. The recording quality is magnificent. I cannot recommend this CD strongly enough!

Average customer rating: Serene and beautiful Rameau Best of genre

Rameau: Castor & Pollux Jerome Correas , Jean-Claude Sarragosse , Howard Crook , Jean-Claude Sarragosse , Kenneth Weiss , and Les Arts Florissants Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Christie, William | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rameau - Zoroastre / Padmore · Berg · Mechaly · Panzarella · Lecroart · Bazola · Bonnet · Revidat · Les Arts Florissants · Christie Rameau - Dardanus / Ainsley, Gens, Naouri, Delunsch, Courtis, Kozena, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Minkowski Rameau - Les Fetes d'Hebe / Daneman, Connolly, Fouchecourt, Agnew, Felix, Les Arts Florissants, Christie Lully - Atys Rameau: Les Indes Galantes ASIN: B000027P8K Release Date: 1993-04-22

Tracks:

1. Prologue: Ov - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
2. Prologue, Scene I: 'Venus, O Venus' - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
3. Prologue, Scene I: Sym - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
4. Prologue, Scene I: 'Je Vous Revois, Belle Deesse' - Rene Schirrer
5. Prologue, Scene II. Gavottes: 'Renais, Plus Brillante' - Mark Padmore
6. Prologue, Scene II. Primier Menuet: 'Naissez, Dons De Flore' - Mark Padmore
7. Prologue, Scene II. Deuxieme Menuet: 'D'un Spectacle Nouveau'/Ov (Reprise) - Claire Brua
8. Act One, Scene I: 'Que Tout Gemisse' - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
9. Act One, Scene II: 'Ou Courez-voux?' - Agnes Mellon/Veronique Gens
10. Act One, Scene III: 'Tristes Apprets, Pales Flambeaux' - Agnes Mellon
11. Act One, Scene IV: 'D'ou Partent Ces Cris Nouveaux?'/'Eclatez, Fieres Trompettes' - Jerome Correas/Agnes Mellon/Adrian Brand/Jean-Claude Sarragosse
12. Act One, Scene IV: Deuxieme Et Troisim Airs De Athletes - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
13. Act One, Scene V: 'Je Remets A Vos Pieds Ces Depouilles Sanglantes' - Agnes Mellon/Jerome Correas
14. Act One, Scene V: Premier Airs Des Athletes - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie

Tracks:

1. Act Two, Scene I: 'Nature, Amour, Qui Partagez Mon Coeur' - Jerome Correas
2. Act Two, Scene II/Scene III: 'Le Souverain Des Dieux' - Jerome Correas/Agnes Mellon/Mark Padmore
3. Act Two, Scene IV: 'Ma Voix, Puissant Maitre Du Monde' - Rene Schirrer/Jerome Correas
4. Act Two, Scene V: 'Connaissez Notre Puissance' - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
5. Act Two, Scene V: 'Qu'Hebe De Fleurs' - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
6. Act Two, Scene V: Deuxieme Air Pour Hebe Et Ses Suivantes/'Voici Des Dieux' - Sophie Daneman
7. Act Three, Scene I: 'Rassemblez-vous, Peuples'/Scene II - Veronique Gens/Jerome Correas/Agnes Mellon
8. Act Three, Scene III: 'Son Char A Recule Tout A Coup A Mes Yeux' - Agnes Mellon
9. Act Three, Scene IV: 'Sortez D'esclavage'/Premier Air Des Demons - Jerome Correas/Agnes Mellon/Veronique Gens
10. Act Three, Scene IV: 'Brisons Tous Nos Fers'/Deuxieme Air Des Demons - Les Arts Florissants
11. Act Three, Scene V: 'Tout Cede A Ce Heros Vainqueur' - Veronique Gens

Tracks:

1. Act Four, Scene I: 'Sejour De L'eternelle Paix' - Howard Crook
2. Act Four, Scene II: 'Qu'il Soit Heureux Comme Nous' - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
3. Act Four, Scene II: 'Ici Se Leve L'aurore' - Sandrine Piau
4. Act Four, Scene II: 'Sur Les Ombres Fugitives' - Sandrine Piau
5. Act Four, Scene II: Autant D'amours que De Fleurs' - Sandrine Piau
6. Act Four, Scene II: 'Fuyez, Fuyez, Ombres Legeres'/Scene III: 'Rassurez-vous, Habitants Fortunes... - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
7. Act Four, Scene III:'Rassurez-vous, Habitants Fortunes'/Scene IV: 'Revenez, Revenez Sur Les... - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
8. Act Five, Scene I: 'Castor Revoit Le Jour' - Veronique Gens
9. Act Five, Scene II: 'CIel Est Donc Touche' - Howard Crook/Agnes Mellon
10. Act Five, Scene III: 'Vivez, Heureux Epoux'/'Peuples, Eloignez-vous' - Howard Crook
11. Act Five, Scene IV: 'Eh Quoi! Tous Ces Objets Ne Peuvent T'attendrir?'/'Qu'ai-je Entendu! Quel Bruit - Howard Crook/Agnes Mellon
12. Act Five, Scene V: 'Les Destins Sont Contents' - Rene Schirrer/Agnes Mellon/Howard Crook/Rene Schirrer
13. Act Five, Scene VI: 'Mon Frere... O Ciel!/'Palais De Ma Grandeur Ou Je Dicte Mes lois/'Palais D - Rene Schirrer/Agnes Mellon/Howard Crook/Jerome Correas
14. Act Five, Scene VII: 'Tant De Vertus Doivent Pretendre'/Entree Des Astres. Gigue - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
15. Act Five, Scene VII. Ariette: 'Brillez, Brillez, Astres Nouveaux' - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie
16. Act Five, Scene VII. Chaconne: 'Que Les Cieux, Que La Terre Et L'Onde' - Les Arts Florissants/William Christie

Amazon.com essential recording

Castor et Pollux ranks high in Rameau's output, the product of consolidated artistic successes he had with Hippolyte et Aricie and other lighter, more-dance oriented works. It was one of the first Rameau operas recorded complete in a set by Nikolaus Harnoncourt that was sometimes so rough, it left aural splinters. This recording by Les Arts Florissants perhaps goes too far in the other direction: its suaveness sometimes threatens to negate the drama in this story of a man who rescues his slain brother in the underworld amid the usual romantic conflicts. The cast catches a number of early-music notables at the beginning of their careers, including Howard Crook, Véronique Gens, Sandrine Piau, and Mark Padmore. Indeed, when this set was first issued in 1993, one never imagined that it would come to be regarded as something close to a dream cast. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Serene and beautiful Rameau.......2006-02-02

Castor et Pollux may not be Jean-Philippe Rameau's greatest operas, although it is a very fine opera, but it is certainly Rameau's most beautiful. The orchestral music is rich and full of life and colour, as always. The tunes are very good - we have the usual range of music here, from toe-tappers to sublimely beautiful arias.
The aria "Tristes apprêts, pâles flambeaux?", sung by Télaïre (Agnés Mellon), Acte I, Scène III, is one of the most beautiful and, indeed, sublime Baroque opera arias I've ever heard. Here this and you'll want to buy this opera.

The cast is strong - Howard Crook, Agnés Mellon, Véronique Gens, Sandrine Piau, Mark Padmore, Claire Brua and Sophie Daneman (before the wobbly vibrato heard in later recordings set in) - and Les Arts Florissants directed by William Christie are in top form.

A must for lovers of Rameau and those curious about Baroque opera.

Hopefully, William Christie and Les Arts Florissants will revisit this work on DVD soon.

Best of genre.......1999-03-13

Castor & Pollux is a moving story about love and sacrifice set to beautiful music, showing Rameau at the height of his talent (although some historic evidence suggests that despite his innovations Rameau never quite dared to go as far as his talent would have allowed in the absence of the period inertia). Telaire's aria "Tristes apprets" is singularly famous, the most stunning glimpse into what Rameau was capable of composing to transcend the immediate aesthetics of his time. But the rest of the opera, although more conventional, is no less beautiful. Even the prologue (which is quite long) is uncommonly beautiful. Other highlights include the aria of Le Grand Pretre in the 2d act, and Castor's "Sejour de l'eternelle paix" at the beginning of the 4th act. The cast includes many of the familiar names in Les Arts Florissants universe. Agnes Mellon excels as Telaire. The role of Castor is taken by the American lyric tenor Howard Crook who used ot be quite popular with Christie before being squeezed out by Mark Padmore, who in turn was later squeezed out by Paul Agnew. Padmore, singing his trademark haute-contre, makes an appearance in Castor & Pollux as the Cupid in the prologue. I personally much prefer Padmore to Crook (or to anybody else for that matter), so to me the writing was clerly on the wall that Crook's days were numbered. Yet I don't want to sound disparaging, Crook is a very talented singer, he is utterly moving in "Sejour..." This is a brilliant recording which you should not miss. Other Christie must-buy CD's include Charpentier's Medee (one thousand thumbs up); Rameau's Hippolyte et Aricie; and Charpentier's La Descente d'Orphee aux Enfers.

Average customer rating:

Les Cris de Paris: Chansons de Janequin & Sermisy Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chansons | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B0006MLT34 Release Date: 2005-06-14

Average customer rating:

Harmonia Meets Zappa Manufacturer: Materiali Sonori ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Strictly off Limits ASIN: B0000282EI

Tracks:

1. Intro to Music for Low Budget Orchestra
2. Hungry Freaks, Daddy
3. Peaches In Regalia
4. What's New In Baltimore?
5. Son Of Mr. Green Genes
6. Barking Playful Sandwich/T-Mershi Duweeen/Igor's Boogie, Phase Four/Aerobics In Bondage/Lumpy Gravy
7. Luna
8. Little Beige Sambo
9. Code 32
10. Goggle 2
11. Iudixio
12. A Frank Lesson
13. Waka/Jawa
14. What's New In Baltimore? (theme)

International Music:

1. Esta Es Mi Musica [Import]
2. FLIPSIDE
3. Friendship [Import]
4. Gonzalo Rubalcaba [Import]
5. Grandes Exitos [Import]
6. Harold Gramatges Obra Completa Para Piano, Vol. 2 [Import]
7. Ich Hab Dich Doch Noch Lieb [Import]
8. Imprevisto [Import]
9. Inicio [Import]
10. Instrumentales Cubanos [Import]

International Music

International Music