Spanish Palace Songbook

From a Spanish Palace Songbook
Music from the time of Christopher Columbus
Margaret Philpot, Shirley Rumsey, Christopher Wilson
Hyperion 66454
Hyperion "Helios" 55097

Contents:

  1. Juan del Encina: Antonilla es desposada (alto, lute, guitar)
  2. Badajos: Quién te hiso, Juan Pastor (alto, 2 vihuelas)
  3. Francisco de la Torre: La Alta (vihuela, lute)
  4. Encina: Olládeme, gentil dona (alto, guitar, lute)
  5. Anon: Dentro en el vergel (2 vihuelas)
  6. Francesco da Milano: La Spagna (2 vihuelas)
  7. Anon: So ell enzina, enzina (alto, vihuela, lute)
  8. Joan Ambrosio Dalza: Calata ala spagnola, recercar detto coda (lute)
  9. Anon: L'amore, dona, ch'io te porto (alto, vihuela, lute)
  10. Encina: Vuestros amores e señora (alto, lute, vihuela)
  11. Encina: Más vale trocar (alto, 2 lutes)
  12. Vincenzo Capirola: Recercar alla spagnola (lute)
  13. Encina: O castillo de Montanges (alto, guitar, vihuela)
  14. Dalza: Caldibi castigliano (lute)
  15. Dalza: Calata ala spagnola (lute)
  16. Juan de Anchieta: Con amores, mi madres (alto, lute)
  17. Encina: Fata la parte (alto, lute, vihuela)
  18. Encina: Hermitaño quiero ser (alto, lute)
  19. Gabriel: Aquella mora garrida (2 vihuelas)
  20. Encina: Vamos, vamos a cenar (2 vihuelas)
  21. Encina: Una sañosa porfia (alto, guitar, vihuela)
  22. Dalza: Calata ala spagnola (lute)
  23. Anon: Tres morillas (alto, lute)
  24. Anon: Pase el agoa (alto, guitar, lute)
  25. Anon: Al alva venid, buen amigo (alto, lute)

Performers: Margaret Philpot (alto), Shirley Rumsey (vihuelas, lutes, guitar), Christopher Wilson (vihuelas, lutes, guitar)

Instruments: vihuela in G (Paul Thompson, 1985), vihuela in G (Paul Thompson, 1988), vihuela in F (Thomas Neitzert, 1989), 6-coure lute in G (Paul Thompson, 1980), 6-course lute in F (Paul Thompson, 1983), 4-course Renaissance guitar in A (Neil Morrison, 1980)

Playing time: 61'

Recording date: May 1991

The selected compositions are taken from the famous Palace Songbook (Cancionero de Palacio) of Madrid, apparently compiled at the court of Ferdinand and Isabella. The most prominent composer in the Songbook is Juan del Enzina (1468-c.1529). Popular elements also make a large contribution to the repertory.

This recording also includes several examples of abstract compositions for plucked-string instruments. This is the era in which these compositions first began to appear, and the composers represented are among the pioneers in the genre. Independent instrumental music first achieving prominence in Spain, followed soon after by Italy.

Other recordings from the same source:

Sola m'ire
Cancionero de Palacio
Ensemble Gilles Binchois - Dominique Vellard
Virgin Veritas 45359
A Royal Songbook
Spanish Music from the time of Columbus
Musica Antiqua of London - Philip Thorby
Naxos 8.553325
El Cancionero de Palacio, 1474-1516
Música en la corte de los Reyes Católicos
Hespèrion XX - Jordi Savall
Astrée 8762
El Cancionero Musical de Palacio
Musik aus der Zeit der Katholischen Könige in Spanien, 1450-1550
Ensemble Danserye
Preiser Records 90028
De Antequara Sale un Moro
Musique de l'Espagne chrétienne, maure et juive vers 1492
Ensemble Musica Ficta - Carlos Serrano
Jade 79256
Cancionero de Palacio
Capella de Ministrers - Carles Magraner
Licanus 0409

Hespèrion XX has done an entire series of similar music from this era.

More broadly-based collections from this era, by similar performers:

The Voice in the Garden
Spanish Songs and Motets, 1480-1550
Gothic Voices - Christopher Page
Hyperion 66653
Music of the Spanish Renaissance
Shirley Rumsey
Naxos 8.550614

These selections also include instrumental music of the 16th century by Milán and Narváez.

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Todd M. McComb