Playing time: 59' 19"
Recording site and date:
St. Savinien [July 1978];
Rel.: 1979 (LP), 1989 (Reflexe 63071), 2000 (EMI 26516), 2010 (EMI
628658)
Compilation:
EMI Classics 7243 8 26515 2 [CDx6]
REFLEXE Vol. 8 Stationen Europäischer Musik
Virgin 7243 5 61 964 2 1 [CDx8]
España Antigua
Reviewed in:
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 13/3- (January/February 1990)
Comments:
Information from CD (François Velde), and LP (Pierre-F.
Roberge).
A collection of late 14th century songs written by monks of the monastery of Montserrat (Catalunya), to provide pilgrims with an appropriately decorous repertoire of songs and dances. They are in the French Ars Nova style, and mostly in Latin (two are in Catalonian).
François VeldeIn many ways, the "Red Book" of the Montserrat monastery near Barcelona is one of the most Spanish of sources for this period. It is given complete here (meaning it is not particularly long), and in a very sonically dense interpretation. There really is no other cycle quite like it, in terms of combining polyphonic devices with the most innocent of folk themes.
A few other recordings of note:
For a more thorough listing, please see the Llibre Vermell discography.
A classic older recording featuring music from this region over a broader span of time:
To purchasing information for this disc.
To FAQ references to this recording.
To FAQ CD index page.
Todd M. McComb