Mermaphilia

Mermaphilia
Zefiro Torna
Eufoda 1343

Contents:

  1. The departure (soundscape: George de Decker, Ward Wels)
  2. Diego Ortiz (c.1510-after 1570?): Recercada
  3. Francisco Alonso de Plaja (ca. 1500): Tir' allá, que non quiero
  4. Juan del Ensina (1468-1529): Oy comamos y bebamos
  5. Juan del Ensina: Si abrá en este baldrés
  6. Juan de Urede (c.1500): Nunca fué pena mayor
  7. At sea (soundscape: George de Decker, Ward Wels and spoken Middle Dutch text by Jacob van Maerlant (c.1230-c.1293) from Der Naturen Bloeme, iv, 865-898)
  8. John Playford (1623-1686): Dick's maggot
  9. Anonymous (18th century): The banks of the Nile
  10. Anonymous (18th century): Tarry trousers
  11. Anonymous (18th century): The ship in distress
  12. Anonymous (18th century): Drops of brandy
  13. Seduction (soundscape: George de Decker, Ward Wels and spoken Italian text by Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374) from Canzoniere, CLXVII)
  14. Guillaume de Machaut (c.1300-1377): San cuer m'en vois - Amis, dolens - Dame, par vous me sens reconfortez
  15. Anonymous (England, 14th century): Humanae linguae
  16. Gilles Binchois (c.1400-1460): Dueil angoisseus
  17. Anonymous, Robertsbridge Codex (c.1360): Petrone
  18. The storm (soundscape: George de Decker, Ward Wels)
  19. Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): Concerto per flauto, archi e basso, RV 433 (La tempestà di mare): Allegro

    20. Death
  20. William Alwyn (1905-1985): Dawn at Sea
  21. John Dowland (1563-1626): From silent night
  22. Tobias Hume (c.1579?-1645): Lamentation

    23. Epilogue
  23. Cristofano Malvezzi (1547-1599): Dolcissime sirene
  24. Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): O sia tranquillo il mare
  25. Henry Purcell (1659-1695): Two daughters of this aged stream

Performers: Zefiro Torna [Els van Laethem (voice), Cécile Kempenaers (voice), Jan van Elsacker (voice), Aline Hopchet (recorder, dulcian), Jurgen De bruyn (mediaeval lute, archiliuto, baroque guitar), Liam Fennely (fiddle, viola da gamba), Frédéric Mallempré (percussion)]; George de Decker, Ward Wels (soundscape)

Playing time: 68'23"

Recording site and date: Academiezaal, Sint-Truiden (Belgium), 28, 29 & 30 June 2002

The soundscape, says the booklet, is based on recordings made by each of the musicians individually, asked to approach their instruments in an experimental way and to produce unusual sounds related to the sea, the wind and ships. The sampled material underwent many reworkings, as did the natural sounds which were added. All these elements were mixed together into a complex, multi-track computer montage.

Information from Johan Borremans.

This ensemble's second recording:

El Noi de la Mare
Ensemble Zefiro Torna - Jurgen de Bruyn
Etcetera 4007

To purchasing information for this disc.

To FAQ references to this recording.

To FAQ CD index page.

Todd M. McComb