This performance, filmed before a live audience, consists of readings of excerpts from various medieval writings, such as the Decameron (Bocaccio), the Canterbury Tales (Chaucer), Eric & Enide (Crestien de Troyes), Piers Plowman (Langland), the Llivre Vermell, the Romance of Tristan & Ysolt, the Romance of the Rose, among others, which are thematically interspersed with the following musical selections:
Playing time: 54'
Performers:
The San Francisco Consort - Todd Wetherwax, dir.
Judy Frankel (voice, percussion), Lee McRae ( vielle, hurdy-gurdy,
citole, organetto, voice), Todd Wetherwax (vielle, recorder, voice,
organetto, tuned bells, percussion)
Recording site and date:
Oakland Public Library Main Branch, Oakland, CA [03/1987]
Comments:
This is the first of a four part production undertaken by KTOP-TV,
Oakland, with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities
and the Oakland Public Library, among others. The series is
"intended as an introduction to the visual, aural, technical
and educational achievements of the Middle Ages." Part 1 is
described as "a program combining poetry and music in a manner
as might have been done in many a great hall during the Middle
Ages."
The other parts of this project are lectures on various related
topics:
Part 2 - Early Manuscripts and the Beginning of Printing
Part 3 - Legends and Popular Romances
Part 4 - Medieval Melody from Sound to Script
Information from owned VHS copy.
To FAQ references to this recording.
To FAQ CD index page.
Jorge Salazar