Estel De Mar: Llibre Vermall De Monserrat - Ensemble Kantika

 Estel De Mar: Llibre Vermall De Monserrat

Mediaeval Pilgrim Songs for the Veneration of St. Mary
Ensemble Kantika – Kristin Hoefner, dir.
Christophorus CHR 77312

... By the end of Middle Ages the monks of Montserrat had assembled a distinguished library. Unfortunately this was largely destroyed in 1811 during the Napoleonic wars. The most precious surviving medieval manuscript in the Scriptorium at Montserrat is undoubtedly the famous Ms. No. 1, known as the Llibre Vermell or Red Book of Montserrat, from the colour of the late 19th century velvet which covers the binding of the codex. The manuscript completed in 1399, originally contained about 172 double pages, or folios, of which 35 have been lost. Included in the Llibre Vermell are ten musical works - possibly more originally - by a number of unknown composers.

Estel de mar is a programme with mediaeval pilgrim songs for the veneration of St Mary (14th c.). KANTIKA performs this programme avoiding any exaggeration and so their presentation is accompanied by only a few instruments as fiddle, rebec, recorders and tambourine. The singers with different European backgrounds take part in this interpretation, each with their own colour of voice, trying to make this recording lively and full of contrasts. The programme has been recorded in the authentic acoustics in the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud.

Contents:

       Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
01. Antiphon: O virgo splendens
02. Virelai: Stella splendens
03. Canon: Laudemus virginem

       Alfonso X el Sabio (attr.): Cantigas de Santa María
04. CSM 10: Rosa das rosas
05. CSM 30: Muito valvera mais

       Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
06. Ballade: Los set gotxs recomptarem
07. Virelai: Cuncti simus concanentes

       Alfonso X el Sabio (attr.): Cantigas de Santa María
08. CSM 20: Virga de Iesse

       Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
09. Virelai: Polorum regina
10. Virelai: Mariam matrem virginem
11. Motet: Inperayritz de la ciutat joyosa
12. Canon: Splendens ceptigera
13. Virelai: Ad mortem festinamus

Performers:

Ensemble Kantika
Carlotta Buiatti, mezzosoprano
Kadri Hunt, alto, percussion
Marianne Miagat, soprano
Hélène Richer, soprano
Kristin Hoefner, mezzosoprano, recorders, percussion
Malcolm Bothwell. rebec, vielle, baritone [in 13]
Kristin Hoefner, art. dir.

Recording site and date:
Refectory of Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, France [07/2009];
Recorded by Adam Kard