The Muses' Gift

The Muses' Gift
The Renaissance Players - Winsome Evans, dir.
Walsingham WAL 8003-2

Contents:

    Anon., (attr. to Publius Vergilius Maro) & 20th c., Codex Snaviensis*:
  1. Copa Surisca - Copae Choreae*

    2. Anon.:
  2. Chançonetta Tedescha I

    3. Moniot D'Arras:
  3. Ce fut en mai

    4. Snave Pluckpayres, 20th c., Codex Snaviensis:
  4. Danse Vanse

    5. Anon., Carmina burana & 20th c., Codex Snaviensis*:
  5. CB 168a: Ne gruonet aver diu heide - Phlanzen Tanz*

    6. Walther von der Vogelweide:
  6. Nemt, frowe, disen kranz

    7. Anon., 20th c., Codex Snaviensis:
  7. L'homme armé

    8. Anon., Carmina burana:
  8. CB 90: Exiit diluculo rustica puella

    9. Adam de la Halle & 20th c., Codex Snaviensis*:
  9. Bergeronette, douce baiselete - Danse de Robin et de Marion*

    10. Judith Ekstein/Snave Pluckplayres, 20th c., Codex Snaviensis:
  10. Dansse Juditha

    11. Anon., Carmina burana & 20th c., Codex Snaviensis*:
  11. CB 151: Virent prata hiemata - Chorea Venerea*

    12. Anon., Carmina burana & 20th c., Codex Snaviensis*:
  12. CB 143: Ecce gratum et optatum - Chorea Flora*

    13. Karen Lemon/Snave Pluckplayres, 20th c., Codex Snaviensis:
  13. Ballata Limone

    14. Anon.:
  14. Veris ad imperia

    15. Anon.:
  15. A l'entrada del tens clar

Playing time: 66' 56"

Performers: The Renaissance Players [Winsome Evans (bamboo flute, whistle, recorder, treble and alto shawm, harp, sinfonye, portative organ, psaltery, divan baglama), Benedict Hames (recorder, gemshorn, rebec), Ingrid Walker (recorder), Katy Ward (vielles), Andrew Tredinnick (chitarra moresca, ud, mandora, gittern), Llew Kiek (gitern, divan baglama), Andrew Lambkin (tapan, darabukka, daireh, tabor), Barbara Stackpool (castanets, finger cymbals, tambourine, rattles), Jenny Duck-Chong (mezzo-soprano, tambourine), Mara Kiek (alto, tapan), Melissa Irwin (soprano), Mina Kanaridis (soprano), Tobias Cole (countertenor), Antony Walker (tenor), David May (poetry reader), Geoff Sirmai (poetry reader)] - Winsome Evans, dir.

Recording site and date:
St. Peters, Sydney, Australia [1992/3]

Other releases (identical, first and re-releases): This is the original CD release

Other releases by this group:
As of may 1997, Renaissance Players has recorded 7 CDs for Walsingham records, the others being:

Walsingham WAL 8004-2
Venus' Fire - Dance II

Walsingham WAL 8005-2
The Ring of Creation

Walsingham WAL 8006-2
Garland Dances - Dance IV

Walsingham WAL 8007-2
Songs for a Wise King - Cantigas de Santa Maria I

Walsingham WAL 8008-2
Maria Morning Star - Cantigas de Santa Maria II

Walsingham WAL 8035-2
Mirror of Light - Cantigas de Santa Maria III

And a series beginning on another label:

The Sephardic Experience
Volume 1: Thorns of Fire
The Renaissance Players - Winsome Evans
Celestial Harmonies 13166

Reviewed in:
Diapason (#-p.):
Gramophone (Vol./#-p.):
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.):18/2-464 (november/december 1994)

Comments:
Information from owned CD. Items identified with Codex Snaviensis are from a compilation of newly composed melodies, mediaeval in style and structure. The program is based on the whole idea that performing secular music of the 12th and 13th century is a memory-based matter. The memory acts as a "light switch"to open up a larger whole. Creation in a memory based environment. The basic theme is dance with a loose definition embellished with "minstrellish little notes". The result is pleasing, the authenticity, certainly opened to discussion. One artist, Mara Kiek is closely associated also with Stevie Wishart's Sinfonye Ensemble.

To purchasing information for this disc.

To FAQ references to this recording.

To FAQ CD index page.

Pierre-F. Roberge