Medieval Christmas

Medieval Christmas

Track Listings

1. What Child Is This?

2. Let All Mortal Flesh

3. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

4. Es Kommt Ein Schiff

5. Wessex Carol

6. Coventry Carol

7. Of the Father's Love Begotten

8. Down in Yon Forrest

9. Good King Wenceslaus

10. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

11. Doulos

Tracks:

Dum pater familias
La Bouree
The Sylvan And Oceanic Delights Of Posilipo: Gagliarda
Quen a Virgen ben servira
Bransles de Villages
Carmina Burana: Katerine collaudemus
The Sylvan And Oceanic Delights Of Posilipo: La scesa de' Pastori dal Monte
Orientis partibus
Volte
Llibre Vermell: Stella Splendens
Carmina Burana: Tempus est iocundum
The Sylvan And Oceanic Delights Of Posilipo: Ballo de Cigni
Carmina Burana: Bache, bene venies
Lux optata claruit
Ballet Incerti
Non e gran causa
Passo e mezzo - Saltarello Giorgio

Customer Reviews:

Rennaissance music at it's finest!.......2007-06-29

This was my first Renaissance music album and the broad styles of several composers were very well represented, especially Michael Pretorius, probably the most well-known composer of his time. The tonal quality sparkles and the latin language comes alive (along with English translation in the included booklet); be prepared for an aural "feast" of some of the more eclectic music from the Renaissance period!

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-02-04

To quote from the accompanying booklet seems to be in order to start this review: "This collection attempts to wipe the dust from some old ideas and restore music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance to its roots deep in the human soul.........What you're listening to on this disc is not the domain of museums, but the music of the people,born of faith and the love of song and dance".
This is a varied group of works, some dances, some strictly instrumental and some accompanied vocal.
The role of dancing, as you might suspect, was enormously important in this era. 'Le Bouree' showcases the dance music of the composer Michael Praetorius. The 'Bransles de Villages' is of French origin and features 2 violins, 2 violas, a cello, a great bass viol, hurdy-gurdy and 2 lutes. 'La scesa de Pastori dal Monte' is an Italian dance by Andrea Ansalone. Another dance written by Michael Praetorious was the 'Volte' which actually involved 4 short dances. It was considered not respectable because of the close contact between the dancers.
The strictly instrumental songs are : 'Dum pater familias' is called a pilgrim song, and it was religious in nature. And, of course, all the dance songs are instrumental.
The vocally oriented songs are: 'Quen a Virgin ben servira' is a song taken from a collection of songs about the miracles attributed to the Virgin Mary.-Three of the songs are from the famous 'Carmina Burana' manuscript.- 'Orientis partibus' is from the 'Feast of fools'which was a feast held by the church itself in which the status of the church herarchy was reversed as inferior clergy assumed the role of their superiors.-'Stella Splendours' is another pilgrim song; this song was sung by pilgrims who went to worship as the Shrine of the Virgin at Montserrat.

I always trust the quality of a CD when Philip Pickett and the New London Consort are involved. This album is very interesting, but I would hope that this would be classified as the more "pop" type music of the period. Also, I don't think that I personally would call it early music, as is indicated in the accompanying booklet. Today that term brings to mind Monteverdi, Cavalli, Palestrina, the Scarlatti's, up to and including Handel and Bach etc.. Just a personal reaction on my part. This is a very well put together disc.

A good sampler of New London Consort's work.......2006-12-20

Although there's nothing special about this disc as a compilation, it does provide a value-priced sampling of 17 tracks from the New London Consort's excellent recorded work. Given that so many of their recordings are difficult to find on CD at a reasonable price, and that one of my personal favorites ("Bache bene venies", from their masterful 4-CD recording of the Carmina Burana) is included here, I'd recommend this CD as a great place to start while you search for the original releases.

Excellent renditions of lively 'old music'........2005-11-23

'Sinners & Saints' by Philip Pickett and the New London Consort is just a bit too ambitious with their subtitle, 'The Ultimate Medieval and Renaissance Music Collection' as I find it hard to believe that 70 minutes can be the ultimate anything on 500 years of history. This is especially true since they seem to focus a lot more on the sinners than the saints, as there is virtually no liturgical music here. But, since there are so many good recordings of medieval liturgies, we aren't missing much.

This is really the sort of thing you would expect to hear from a travelling troupe of minstrals, but not from a solo artist, as practically every performance involves several instruments and voices.

Some tracks will sound especially familiar, as they are very similar to Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana', inspired by medieval texts.

Compared to many recordings of music from Shakespeare's time, this collection is superior and well worth the investment.

A Treasure of the Time Period.......2005-08-11

I bought this CD with a children's history class in mind. We are studying the Dark Ages to the Rennaisance. I was delighted to hear the variety of selections which span the spectrum of genres during this period of history. My children and I have been listening to it in the car as well as at home for the simple enjoyment of the music. It will be exciting to present these pieces to my class as I feel it is a very accurate display of the cultures, instrumentation, languages, and styles of the Middle Ages. I am a proffesional musician and thoroughly enjoy most types of music so it wasn't hard to get me interested but I was surprised to hear my eight-year-old and five-year-old sons asking to hear this CD. The former child said it made him feel "important" to listen!!

Average customer rating:

Completely satisfied
Holiday music with that extra magic - creepiness!
Another brilliant Nox Arcana CD!
Music to be enchanted by
Very Good, Different

Winter's Knight
Nox Arcana
Manufacturer: Monolith Graphics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Transylvania
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Blood of the Dragon

ASIN: B000ALIUR4
Release Date: 2005-07-25

Tracks:

Vigil
Ghosts of Christmas Past
Ebonshire
Solitude
Crystal Forest
First Snow
Evening Star
Reflections of Long Ago
December Winds
Phantom Toccata
Hallowed Ruins
Gregorian Hymn
Spirit of the Season
Coventry Carol
Lullaby
Winters Knight
Past Time with Good Company
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Veni, Veni, Emannuel
Redemption
Carol of the Bells

Product Description

Nox Arcana weaves a musical ghost story with this haunting collection of original melodies, symphonic orchestrations, and Gothic renditions of traditional carols. Winter's Knight contains 21 tracks and over 60 minutes of darkly enchanting music to celebrate the spirit of the season.

Customer Reviews:

Completely satisfied.......2007-04-01

I am very satisfied with this product and recommend it to anyone who likes instrumental and haunting melodies.

Holiday music with that extra magic - creepiness!.......2007-01-26

If you are in a holiday mood, but are heartily fed up with Irish (or even worse: Mariah Carey!) Christmas songs, then you might want to consider this album. It is not a soundeffect album, nor is it program music. A final touch is that it is not cheaply produced, as some more traditional holiday albums.
The music conveys a feeling of cold, dark, and immensly lonely winter. The Christmas is there, but there are undertows of older and more sinister rituals, and whispers call the more unwary listeners to join in...
This album could be a very good way to spice up the celebrations.

Another brilliant Nox Arcana CD!.......2007-01-03

Nox Arcana's versatility has made them a tough act to follow. Whether it be a musical journey into the foreboding land of vampires (Transylvania) or a sinister carnival with a bloody history (Carnival of Lost Souls) or any of their other forays into gothic imaginings, Nox Arcana has taken each concept and breathed impressive, symphonic life into it. Their CDs truly are mini symphonies, with astounding musicianship and intricate orchestrations.

In Winter's Knight, Nox Arcana presents a moody, elegant collection of holiday-themed songs that captures the more mystical, meditative side of Christmas. The CD's strong medieval/classical flavor is refreshing, particularly since most Christmas music nowadays seems dominated by more modern songs. Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski offer great new arrangements of classic pieces like "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" as well as many of their own moving compositions, such as the memorably haunting "Crystal Forest" and the chilling piano-dominated "Evening Star." Guest vocalist Michelle Belanger also contributes a lovely interpretation of the holiday standard "Past Time With Good Company" and Jeff Endemann's vocal work on "Coventry Carol" is likewise a highlight.

While most Christmas music is, unfortunately, either infantile and annoying or overdone, Winter's Knight provides a refreshing change of piece full of musical elegance and mystical beauty.

Music to be enchanted by.......2006-12-25

As mesmerizing as falling snow, this poetic and magickal soundscape creates a wonderland of lavish treats befitting the Holiday Season. Haunting and sophisticated, there's a certain luster to these songs that reflects the gothically romantic luxury only Nox Arcana can deliver. The addition of neo-bard, Jeff Endemann's spellbinding voice on "Coventry Carol" delivers an extra gift of warmth for those chilly Yuletide evenings. The original score by Vargo and Piotrowski interspersed with classic carols and a booklet of eye-candy artwork by Joseph Vargo makes this a perfect fit for any Holiday Collection, so fill your wassail cup, pull up some moonlight and breathe in the wonder of Winter Knights.

Very Good, Different.......2006-11-04

The idea behind this CD and the music itself are a breath of fresh air in the stagnant holiday music scene. Dark and evocative, it pushes aside the sugarplums and saccharine we're all used to. However, the production leaves quite a bit to be desired. It's all done with computers - the choral parts are lacking in fullness, I can't always tell what the stringed "instruments" are supposed to be, and rather than cadences that would give finality to the piece, the tracks often come to a sudden stop. 3 1/2 stars.

Average customer rating:

The Rose by Mediaeval Baebes
The Rose
you can't go wrong with this band
Sounds of Angels and Wild Women
Ravishing!!

The Rose
The Mediæval Bæbes
Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000063138
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

I Am Eve
Glass Window
Slay Me Suddenly
The Snake
The Circle of the Lustful
Laude Novella
There Is No Rose of Swych Vertu
Lick The Maypole
Razreesh
Byrd One Brere
Dringo Bell
The Rose
L'amour De Moi
The Woods and the Rivers Are Silent
Spiriti
The Sour Grove
Blow Northern Wind

Amazon.com

Sumptuous, soothing, sensual--the heavenly voices of the Mediaeval Baebes continue to enchant the ears with the group's fourth album. These talented Baebes (and their main composer Katharine Blake) borrow lyrical material from medieval prose and find inspiration in medieval music. While most of The Rose comprises original pieces, it also includes a medieval English composition, a 14th century French traditional song, and an Italian lauda. The hypnotic, dulcet voices of this nine-piece collective are mesmerizing a cappella, especially with their fluency in multiple languages, but some of these songs feature accompaniment from strings, zither, recorder, acoustic guitar, percussion, and other instruments. The Mediaeval Bloakes Choir even turn in a supporting appearance on the sublime "Dringo Bell." Despite their name, the Mediaeval Baebes create timeless music that, for many listeners, may help fill in the gap left by the dearly departed Dead Can Dance. --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews:

The Rose by Mediaeval Baebes.......2007-01-16

I heard one song "Blow Northern Wind" on XM Satellite Radio and fell in love with it. It had a bit of a familiar sounding as to that of The Celtic Women styling. I decided to make the purchase and hoped most of the CD's other songs were comparible. I didn't hear what I expected in the least, but now I have found myself a new love for this new music. The CD has all the words to the songs (both in old mediaval English circa 1300 - 1500 A.D. and it's translation to todays current speaking English) so I actually got a bit of a history lesson along with great music.

The Rose.......2007-01-10

I bought this for my husband for Christmas. He loves their music!

you can't go wrong with this band.......2006-06-29

Soaring vocals, period (correct for the time) instruments, and more as you would expect from this group, but a wider range of music and tempos than is usual for one of their CDs. This Cd gives you a good overview of the styles and voices that Medieval Babes is capable of, but is *not* a consistant album, more like a sampler.
Buy any one of their albums, any one at all, and you will be hooked. Any group that can manage to get me, and my husband!, singing along to a medieval tune in Latin has really got something going for it.
This was the second album of theirs that I purchased, the first being Mistletoe and Wine. A much wider array of music, obviously, than their seasonal Cd, The Rose is not one of my favorites of their albums, but even so I recomend it!

Sounds of Angels and Wild Women.......2006-06-13

I really REALLY love this CD. I've been listening to the Amazon.com music clips for weeks and finally bought it. It is a gem. The music is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.

This is music (with the possible exception of DRINGO BELL) that you could let your grandma listen to and she'd think they were sacred songs.

But keep grandma away from the lyrics! My goodness--these sweet and innocent sounding women are singing some very sexually graphic words but they are cleverly disguised in foreign and medievel languages. THE SOUR GROVE is all about female genitalia and the first song they sing is I AM EVE--a fact which they seem to be quite proud.

Ravishing!!.......2006-03-15

This group is simply phenomenal, and this is the best of their amazing output. It is gorgeous, ravishing, creative, original, inventive, and a whole lot more. But it is too short. It could be twice the length and still be too short!!

The music is hard to pigeonhole, but I would call it "contemporary", but strongly inspired by the spirit, rhythm, and melodies of medieval music (but one could easily switch the terms "contemporary" and medieval in the above sentence and still be equally accurate). All the songs are evocative and transporting, but Dringo Bell is the apogee of the disc.

This disc is also a celebration of the glory of the feminine. Truly so in an aural sense. But a quick visit to the website of the group shows this to be as true visually. For that reason also, the Baebes are unparalled.

Average customer rating:

AMAZING
More medieval revival music from a truly unique "girls' group"
Þe Mediaeval Baebes been SO keele!
A Day At The Faire
One of my favourite albums of any genre

Worldes Blysse
The Mediaeval Baebes
Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000JMXJ
Release Date: 1999-07-27

Tracks:

Kinderly
All Turns To Yesterday
Love Me Broughte
Beatrice
Ecci Mundi Gaudium
Waylaway
Alba
When Thy Turuf Is Thy Tour
Erthe Upon Erthe
Passing Thus Alone
La Volta
Pearl
Swete Sone
So Spricht Das Leben
C'est La Fin
How Death Comes

Amazon.com

Hark all ye fans of Dame Darcy, Gothic Archies, and madrigal dinners! The Mediaeval Baebes follow-up their Christmas-themed debut with Worldes Blysse, an imperfectly enchanting homage to the cycle of life and death. Numbering the mystical 13, the Baebes are Miranda Sex Garden's Katharine Blake and her girlfriends, supplemented by a somewhat older period instrumentalist who, along with Blake, is the only classically trained musician. Fancied mistresses of dark faerie tales and maidens of Lilith Fair, the Baebes, bedecked in diaphanous gowns and locks like Rapunzel, perform traditional plainsongs of the 13th through 15th centuries, as well as originals written in that style. Acoustic period-inspired accompaniment flits round a cappella numbers and is given the spotlight on the frolicsome instrumental "La Volta." Giving hardly a hoot for chops, and rather reveling in vivacity, the Baebes court the image of themselves as a naughty flock of strumpets: scooping and sliding into notes at times like rosy-cheeked choirgirls ("Kinderly," "Beatrice"), and at others sounding like bratty children tromping through a village green ("Ecci Mundi Gaudium," "How Death Comes"). Not for purists or classical snobs, Worldes Blysse is a weirdly wonderful windfall for melancholy teens, drama queens, and hipsters too cool for authenticity. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING.......2007-03-22

I heard the Mediaeval Baebes at a renfest in Florida a few years back, and was amazed by their voices and their song. They are truly incredible. This is my first Mediaeval Baebes cd adn it's incredible! Anyone who wants to listen to something "new" should buy this cd, and if you ever get a chance to go see them live, take it!

More medieval revival music from a truly unique "girls' group".......2006-10-01

"Worldes Bliss" continues where the Baebes' debut album, "Salva Nos" left off, with a few more lively numbers and more acoustic instrumental accompaniments. Medieval and Renaissance lyrics, mostly Middle English, are married to director Katherine Blake's intriguing compositions--some earthy and full, others innocently ethereal. I find her hypnotic rounds and call-and-response arrangements especially effective. While the a capella solos are distinctive, I find the numbers that combine both vocals and instrumentals to be the most appealing, and this trend continues in the group's subsequent releases. The Baebes' lineup for this recording the same as for their debut album: Nicole Frobusch, Carmen Schneider, Katharine Blake, Nichole Sleet, Karen Lupton, Teresa Casella, Marie Findley, Audrey Evans, Clare Ravel, Ruth Galloway, Rachel Van Asch, Cylindra Sapphire, and instrumentalist Dorothy Carter on a variety of stringed and wind instruments, with guest artists Derrick Melcan on pipe and Trevor Sharpe on drums and percussion. The next release of the Mediaeval Baebes is "Undrentide," followed by "The Rose." For more medieval revival fare, try the work of Faun, Qntal and Wolgemut. And for a bit of the real thing, check out "Music of the Gothic Era" by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London, "Schiarazula Marazula" by Christian Mendoze's Musica Antiqua, "Songs and Dances of the Middle Ages" by Sonus, "Istanpitta" 1 & 2 by New York's Ensemble for Early Music, "Bestiarium" by La Reverdie, "New Britain" by the Boston Camerata, and "La Bele Marie" by Anonymous 4.

Þe Mediaeval Baebes been SO keele!.......2006-07-21

I first heard about Mediaeval Baebes from back in my file-sharing days when I downloaded a song of theirs. Immediately upon hearing it I ran out and bought this CD! I absolutely adore it, but for review purposes I give it three stars. Why? Well here are the reasons--

First: The pronunciation of the Middle English is often wrong. They seem to mostly know how it's supposed to go, so I don't know if it's slips of the tongue and they didn't have enough studio time left to try rerecording the songs after messing up, or what. One especially strange example is in a song with the words "night" and "fight." They pronounce night pretty accurately, like "neat" but with a kind of soft Germanic 'ch' sound for the 'gh.' Yet fight is then pronounced in the modern way. The words are obviously supposed to rhyme with each other, there is no sensible reason they should be pronounced so differently.

Secondly: The "song" So Sprech Das Leben. This is the most horrible song I've ever heard, basically an old lady reading a poem in pseudo-Shakespearean English with a hurdy-gurdy playing in the background. "No! Not the 'So sayeth Life' song!" I cry, and race to skip the track whenever those tingly notes start up from the speakers! This song is so awful I very nearly gave this CD no stars at all, because in cause this song it is really worth deducting them all; it is only for my love of the rest of the music that I gave it so high a mark.

Now, with that out of the way, I otherwise really like this CD. The music is great, you can even dance to most of it. I also like how most of the lyrics are included in the CD jacket, often with translations. The performances are great aside from the afore mentioned problems, and I totally expect to buy more of their CDs.

A Day At The Faire.......2006-04-04

It is the Year of Our Lord 1372. The place, a rural county faire somewhere in Medieval Europe where one and all have come to celebrate the bountiful harvest. Along with the villagers there are also gathered minstrels, jugglers, actors and a town fool or two.

The smell of flowers, wine and fresh meat cooking in open fire pits fill the air offering a sweet boutique to all attending this joyous annual occasion. Complimenting these gastronomic fragrances is the most wonderous array of color and texture one could imagine. Allow yourself to become mesmerized by the bright, flowing dresses, scarfs, hats, wreaths and banners stretching out before you for as far as the eye can see.

Soon the intoxication becomes complete when the sound of female voices are added to the olefactory and visual delights. The vocals are enchanting, theatrical, whimiscal, heavenly and wantonly pagan simultaneously. Let the music carry you away on a magical journey to days gone by when man and nature were one, and song and dance was a way of life! Such Blysse!

I've just described what it's like listening to 'Worldes Blysse' a marvelous -16 track- CD by the Mediaeval Baebes.

Yeah, it's kinda like that.

One of my favourite albums of any genre.......2005-04-23

I picked this up in a music store a few years back because I thought the album art was so interesting. I love madrigals, but they're always presented as stuffy-looking and boring. I almost as impressed with the album's creative aesthetics as I was with the music!

The Baebes are lovely witchy women with a very romantic and unique appeal, and their music is as catchy as it is dark and esoteric. Fans of classical/dead languages, beautiful & pure a capella harmonies, and wicked medievel musical instruments will need to purchase this... as will anyone who finds themselves enraptured by the music of ages past :)

Medieval & Renaissance Minstrels, Songs & Dances

Average customer rating:

A very nice album for SCAdian ears
Recording is defective
adequate performances but totally inadequate information
A nice overview of very early music
Don't Be Affraid

Medieval & Renaissance Minstrels, Songs & Dances

Manufacturer: Legacy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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English Renaissance Music

ASIN: B000002NR5
Release Date: 1994-07-18

Tracks:

Renaissance Song & Dance
Dance Suite - Eramus Widmann - Collection Of1613
Three English Songs For Voices And Instruments
Instrumental Music Of The Early Barogue
Festive Sounds
Trouvere Tunes
The Cabinet Organ
Lauda And Motet
Minstrel Melodies
Medieval Dances

Customer Reviews:

A very nice album for SCAdian ears.......2007-04-25

This is a fun album. it's festive, playful, and a real joy to listen to. There is something for everyone in this album--including and especially SCAdians. In fact there's probably at least one piece on this album that every SCAdian dancer, musician, and/or bard will recognize. There's courtly songs, love songs, and get out of your chair dances, even formal pieces you associate with concert halls.

Whether you play in the SCA or just love great historical music, this is one of the better albums I've ever bought--on amazon or anywhere else!

Recording is defective.......2007-04-06

The first one I got had a lot of popping and crackling, and some digital defects that cause the CD player to skip. I liked the music so I bought another copy and it was the same. Both wound up in the trash. Don't waste your money on this disk.

adequate performances but totally inadequate information.......2005-04-27

It is perhaps unfair to judge the performances on this recording (presumably made in the late 1950s/early 60s? - we are not given a date) by modern standards of early music performance. Yes, there are moments when the experimental nature of the approach is all too apparent, both in terms of the [im]plausibility of the interpretations and in the [at times] excruciating intonation (a particularly pertinent example is the shawm playing in track 10). But what is in fact by far the most deplorable feature of this recording is the utter sparsity of information provided - about the performers, the instruments, the composers, the repertoire, etc. Worse still, what little that is provided is often hopelessly inaccurate: sometimes in the form of blatant spelling errors (eg the Coventry Carol becomes here 'Lully Lullary', etc), at other times factual blunders (the medieval 'Estampie' in track 10 is in fact a 16th cent [ie Renaissance] tourdion, 'Quand je bois du vin clairet', whilst John Dowland's 'Frogg Galliard', c.1597, is here given an anonymous attribution...etc, etc, etc).

In short, for those not acquainted with pre-Baroque music, this is NOT a good place to start!!! Seasoned Early Music connoisseurs, on the other hand, may find a perverse pleasure in some atrocious moments, or perhaps take interest in its value as an example of historically informed performance style in the pioneering years - but you have been warned!!

For those interested, here are some alternative recommendations if you are new to this music: firstly, 2 wide-ranging compilations by 2 well-known ensembles -

1. Sinners and Saints - The New London Consort/Philip Pickett (Decca 48559)
2. Portrait ('Moyen Age et Renaissance') - Hesperion XX/Jordi Savall (Auvidis Fontalis 'Portrait' ES9904), or either of the 2 new compilations by Savall and his ensemble(s) on Alia Vox ('Harmonie Universelle', AV9810; 'Harmonie Universelle II', AV9839).

and a compilation (mostly of early music) featuring a number of different groups -

'Pastime with Good Company' (Alpha, A901) [includes groups like L'Arpegiatta, Le Poeme Harmonique, Diabolus in Musica...]

A nice overview of very early music.......2003-12-02

This was one of the first recordings of early music I ever bought. It's a broad survey of styles and periods, from the 12th to 17th centuries. I've become a more sohisticated listener since then, but I still get this one out fairly regularly. The recording is apparently old and the digital remastering was not done extraordinarily well, but those who are more interested in music than in audio equipment should be able to listen through the occasional (minor) vinyl surface noise. My major complaint (why I gave it 3 stars instead of 4) is the lack of documentation--there is no information about the musicians, and many of the composers are uncredited (some because they actually are anonymous, but sometimes out of apparent laziness). Still, at this price it's a bargain.

Don't Be Affraid.......2003-11-19

This cd is worth picking up. Yes the first couple of tracks have pops and crackles in it. And yes it sounds as if the music was transfered directly from a vinyl source. But the performances and selections on this cd are fabulous. And you get use to the flaws in the recordings. Which I find minor.

Tracks:

Dinaresade
Edi be thu, Heven-Queene
Nevestinko oro
Beata progenies
Mari stanko
Sei willekommen Herre Christ
Bog se rodi va Betleme
Koleda na Bozic
Kod Betlehema
Koleda na Bozic
Angelus ad virginem
D
Quinte Estampie real
Urbs Beata Ierusalem
Mevl

Customer Reviews:

MUSIC OF THE MEDIEVAL PILGRIM.......2007-06-11

I love this cd--all the tracks are great, especially "On the way to Bethlehem"!

Exotic, exciting and fun!.......2002-11-29

If Ensemble Unicorn is great, Unicorn combined with the Middle-Eastern-inspired Ensemble Oni Wytars is even better! Actually, the two groups seem to share many of the same members, along with Ensemble Accentus (which focuses on Spanish and Sephardic music), but with different directors for each: Michael Posch for Unicorn, Marcos Ambrosini for Oni Wytars, and Thomas Wimmer for Accentus. This CD brings the musicians together to offer a stimulating combination of western and eastern-influenced music that might have been heard or played by medieval Pilgrims making the journey eastward. The European tunes focus on the Christmas season, while the Balkan and Near Eastern selections are traditional, handed down orally through the centuries and interpreted here with a zeal that should be as appealing to belly dancers as to early music enthusiasts (and I know many people who fall into both categories!). Instruments used include chalumeau, cheremia, cornemuse bechonnet, darbukka, davul, def, gayda, gittern, kaval, nyckelharpa, sackpipa, tamburello, tombak, vihuela d'arco, and a number of others that you actually might have heard of before--bagpipe, rebec, recorder, rebec, shawm, ud and the like. Ellen Santaniello also contributes vocals. I was surprised and delighted when I played this CD for the first time, and I continue to be each time I hear it again. If you like this recording, be sure to check out the other collaboration between Ensemble Unicorn and Ensemble Oni Wytars, "Music of the Troubadours", also from Naxos.

Exotic jams.......2001-02-27

Yes, fortunately, this record does not contain anything you'd recognise as depressing Xmas kitsch.

Instead, the record wishes to envisage a journey of mediæval pilgrims, beginning in Western Europe, and moving through the Balkans towards the Holy Land. As such, the disk contains a mixture of Western European, Balkan, and Islamic melodies.

The strength of Ensemble Unicorn and Oni Wytars is their ability to use early music as the basis for extended jam sessions. This recording is framed by two such jams, each more than twelve minutes in length, the opening -Dinaresade- and the closing -Mevlana-. Based on Middle Eastern themes, these are excellent performances, rich in atmosphere. Fans of contemporary groups who make use of similar material, from Loreena McKennitt to Dead can Dance, may find this record interesting, and well worth the Naxos price.

FWIW, Ensemble Unicorn and Oni Wytars also collaborate on the -Black Madonna- recording, another Naxos release I can highly recommend.

I WANT MORE!.......1999-06-08

Great melodies, better instrumentation....INCREDIBLE MUSIC!!! I find western-europe music by ensemble Unicorn great, but the oriental part by Oni Wytars is simply amazing, both the balkanic and oriental songs. My only regret is that I loved the ensemble too much to bear the fact that no other record by them is anywhere to be found...

Too cool to be considered classical and definitely not Xmas........1999-01-12

Despite the title this album has nothing to do with Christmas music. The sounds range from Celtic to Middle Eastern. While they date from the days of the Crusades, they sound great to my ears in the nineties. The last track makes you want to belly dance!

Average customer rating:

Spare, unearthly recreations of medieval tunes and lyrics
Stop bad-mouthing the Baebes!!!!
An acquired taste
0 Stars really , but they wouldn't let me. Save your money.

Salva Nos (Save Us)
The Mediæval Bæbes
Manufacturer: Nettwerk
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Undrentide
Mirabilis
The Rose
Mistletoe and Wine: A Seasonal Collection
Worldes Blysse

ASIN: B00000I2CA
Release Date: 1999-04-06

Tracks:

Salve Virgo Virginum
Now Springs the Spray
Ah! Si Mon Moine
Adam Lay Ibounden
Foweles in the Frith
So Treiben Wir Den Winter Aus
Coventry Carol
Gaudete
Adult Lullaby
Veni Veni
Salva Nos
Verbum Caro
Lo, Here My Heart
Binnorie O Binnorie
This Ay Nicht
Miri It Is

Customer Reviews:

Spare, unearthly recreations of medieval tunes and lyrics.......2006-10-01

The Mediaeval Baebes, a group of twelve female vocalists led by Katherine Blake, croon and sigh their way through a variety of Latin, Middle English and medieval French songs in a manner all their own. Usually in unison, and often unaccompanied, the straightforward sound of their voices is simple yet striking. All of the music of "Salva Nos" has a fairy tale quality about it, whether that be in the form of innocent lilts graced by dulcimer and recorders, or primal chants belted out heartily to the deep beat of hand drums. Another world, another time, another aesthetic--this is music that calms and transports you. It may not be entirely authentic in its presentation, but its spirit shines through. "Salva Nos" is by far the most laid back of the Mediaeval Baebes' releases--they keep getting livelier after this one, with more drums, more attitude, and eventually some electronica. But this is where it all started. The Baebes' roster for this recording is: Nicole Frobusch, Carmen Schneider, Katharine Blake, Nichole Sleet, Karen Lupton, Teresa Casella, Marie Findley, Audrey Evans, Clare Ravel, Ruth Galloway, Rachel Van Asch and Cylindra Sapphire, with instrumentalist Dorothy Carter on hurdy gurdy and dulcimer. The next of the Mediaeval Baebes' albums is "Worldes Bliss." Try also the work of the German neo-Medieval group Estampie and the duo Dead Can Dance. And if you'd like to hear early English music performed by authentic period ensembles, here are some suggestions: "Miri It Is" by The Dufay Collective, "English Songs of the Middle Ages" by Sequentia, "An English Ladymass," "On Yoolis Night," "Legends of Nicholas," and "Wolcum Yule" by Anonymous 4, and "A Waverly Consort Christmas."

Stop bad-mouthing the Baebes!!!!.......2001-03-05

While I do agree that Mediaeval Baebes' Salva Nos is not myfavorite of their trio of Album I still have to say that it is a .. good CD and well worth the price! These girls have guts that not very many other artists I know have. They are not afraid to try new things as anyone with ears can hear if they listen to all three albums. They are, simply put, talented.

An acquired taste.......2000-06-28

I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone to buy this as their first Mediaeval Baebes CD. It's nowhere near as accessible as, say, Undrentide. The majority of tracks are religious (Christian, that is) in content, from Christmas carols ("Coventry Carol" or an ethereal version of "Veni, Veni" - better known as "Oh come, oh come, Immanuel") to funeral dirges ("This Ay Nicht", also known as the "Lyke Wake Dirge") and frankly the album doesn't display the range or sheer pagan fun of their later offerings. I wouldn't describe "Salva Nos" as "risible" but certainly would suggest listening to some of the Baebes' later recordings rather than Salva Nos before making a decision on whether to buy any more of their material. Some of the tracks on this album are definitely an acquired taste. Once you've acquired the taste, you'll want to hear them again, though!

0 Stars really , but they wouldn't let me. Save your money........2000-04-13

The Mediaeval Babes is the confection of some bright spark who thought that the girlie-group formula could be joined with the music of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries to... well, to make a lot of money. I suspect that they failed: they certainly deserved to.

The Babes themselves are a washed-out bunch of hopeless wanabees. Some can sing a little, none does anything well. Their music is a crude blend, tasteless, talentless pastiches of mediaeval standards alternating with phoney pretend stuff.

Tracks:

Dulci dignum melodia
Mundo salus gracie
Clara sonent organa
Noster cetus psallat letus
Virginis in gremio
Iudicii signum
Instrumental Piece
Alleluia! Iustus ut palma florebit
Quam felix cubiculum
Uterus hodie
Iubilemus, exultemus
Descendit de celis
Gaudia debita
Natus est rex
Instrumental Piece
De monte lapis scinditur
O Maria, Deu maire
Plebs domini

Customer Reviews:

Hauntingly beautiful........2005-12-19

'aquitania' is the second collection of 12th century musical pieces from Aquitanian Monasteries performed by sequentia, or the 'Ensemble for Medieval Music' comprised of a chorus of male voices, a chorus of female voices, and an instrumental ensemble.

Not being a professional musical antiquarian, the very best I can say about this recording is that it is better than the first collection, 'shining light'.

Oddly, my biggest problem with both collections is that nothing on both recordings does anything whatsoever to evoke Christmas for me. I say that because there are some buyers who may be on the lookout for some unusual Christmas music and they just may be disappointed by what the do NOT hear on these recordings. That caveat aside, this collection is very, very good in its variety of male, female, and instrumental voices.

What some tracks do evoke is an oddly Celtic sound, especially in some of the instrumental tracks. All the vocals are in Latin, meaning they were all written to be performed for and by the monks and nuns of the monasteries in the Christmas season.

There is simply nothing here sounding remotely like 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', even in Latin.

If you want a portal into the world of very old music, I can think of nothing better. It is certainly more diverse and more interesting than the otherwise excellent 'Anonymous 4' recordings of old Christmas music.

Highly recommended.

A Trip to the World of Medieval Aquitania.......2000-06-05

Aquitania was a rich part of the medieval world. It was the land of the troubadours and of the admirable liturgical chants. It was the world of the first medieval troubadour, Guilhelm IX, Duke of Aquitania and grandfather of Eleanor, the powerful queen. This CD evokes this legendary place, its myths and its art of the 12th century. All the CDs of Sequentia are marvellous. Words are not enough of describing the sensitive work of this ensemble. I have heard Dante and the Troubadours, Aquitania, with Christmas Music from Aquitanian monasteries and Shining Light. These three CDs give us a powerful view of the aquitanian spirit. I feel the vibrant culture of that part of a medieval world, when I am listening the troubadours songs and the music from aquitanian monasteries performed by Sequentia.

Mistletoe and Wine: A Seasonal Collection

Average customer rating:

buy this one first
Great introduction to Mediaeval Baebes
Great choral versions of ancient songs
A pleasing tone
A "best of", not really a Christmas record

Mistletoe and Wine: A Seasonal Collection

Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Mirabilis
The Rose
Worldes Blysse
Undrentide
Salva Nos (Save Us)

ASIN: B0000AM6O4
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

The Holly & The Ivy
Gaudete
L'Amour De Moi
Salva Nos
Glass Window
There Is No Rose of Swych Vertu
Kinderly
In Dulce Jubilo
Love Me Broughte
I Am Eve
Quan Vey La Lauzeta
The Coventry Carol
Undrentide
Ecce Mundi Gaudium
Blow Northern Wind

Customer Reviews:

buy this one first.......2006-06-29

This is not really a Christmas, or even a seasonal, album, more of a best of the Babes. yYs, they lead off with "The Holly and the Ivy" (and do it beautifully) but do not buy this as a "holiday music album"... or do... you won't regret buying it whatever your reasons!
This was my introduction to this band and I was absolutely floored. It lived in my car CD player for 2 months straight, and still is in the first section of my CD storage unit.... a rare honor for *any* Cd. It is also responsible for causing me to go out and try to buy every other CD the band has out, and I have not been disapointed in any of the ones I have gotten so far.
Speaking as a former music major, religious student, and medieval re-creationist, I know I can be pretty nit picky when it comes to "medieval" music; all too often it is neither medieval, nor (in my opinion) music! This is one of those rare exceptions that can manage to get you out of a chair to dance, while singing at the top of your lungs in Olde Englishe, Latin, or whatever. There isnt a bad voice in the lot (although some of the harmonies can be a bit odd if you arent used to medieval music) and the instrumental backings are pure gold.

Great introduction to Mediaeval Baebes.......2006-02-27

This CD has many songs from previous albums and a few new songs. It is a great introduction to Mediaeval Baebes music and serves as "best of" type of collection. It is billed as a "holiday" collection but I listen to it year round and quite often. The Mediaeval Baebes have a very unique and wonderful sound.

Great choral versions of ancient songs.......2005-11-19

I first heard the Mediaeval Baebes on a UK double CD (Best carols in the world ever) featuring three of their trackss (Guadete, Coventry carol, Adam lay ibounden), all of which can also be found on their debut album, but my curiosity only became aroused when that UK double CD was updated and repackaged with a different title (Best Christmas carols ever) and all the Mediaeval Baebes tracks were omitted with other choirs replacing them. My research showed that they have become an established group (albeit with line-up changes) and are now very successful in their chosen style, which some may regard as classical but (since they sing with their natural voices rather than operatic voices) seems more like traditional folk music to me.

This is not a Christmas album in the true sense of the word although there are some recognizable Christmas carols here - rather it is a compilation of music taken from their earlier albums together with a couple of re-recordings and two completely new recordings. I would have liked some liner notes giving some detailed information about the songs but very little information is actually provided. Apparently, much more information can found in the booklets provided with the original album releases. Still, it's the music that counts and, when it comes to choral music, this is as good as it gets.

The set opens with The holly and the ivy, set to the tune that everybody is familiar with. I seem to remember reading somewhere that this tune, although old, is not the original tune written for the song. This is where liner notes would be useful - and as this is one of the new recordings, their original albums won't help. Given that the Mediaeval Baebes aim to re-record very old songs, it would have been nice to hear them sing it to its original tune if it really was different from the current one. I suppose it doesn't matter since they sing the song superbly anyway.

Other Christmas carols that you are likely to recognize are Gaudete (revived most famously by folk-rockers Steeleye Span), In dulce jubilo (a new recording for this album, it was recorded in the seventies by Mike Oldfield, who had a UK hit with his instrumental version) and The Coventry carol. The other songs are unfamiliar to me but the group perform them all brilliantly. The other song of theirs on that UK carols compilation (Adam lay ibounded) is not included, but there's plenty else to make up for that omission.

The instruments used to back the group (mostly played by members of the group) are interesting. They include a zither, a hurdygurdy, a citern, a glockenspiel, an astrowheel and three different types of recorder - not the kind of instruments to be heard regularly on pop and rock albums. I was particularly pleased to find the recorders here. Like many Brits of my generation, I was forced to learn to play the recorder at school (I did so very badly) and so the recorder has never had a great reputation, but when played well and in the right setting (as here), it sounds wonderful.

This is a fine compilation in many ways but it may be that one of the original albums (which apparently have detailed liner notes) will provide an even better introduction to the music of the Mediaeval Baebes. Despite my reservations, this is still (easily) a five-star album and I'll certainly listen to more of their music eventually.

A pleasing tone.......2004-12-02

This is probably one of my new favorite Christmas albums. It is an absolute gem. It isn't an over-powering album with new or different things but they have recorded a few lesser known Latin Carols that are not given much attention anymore. Gaudete was one that stood out. The arrangement is rather simple and beautiful and the song itself is melodic in an unusual way. I have found that this CD has appealed to a fairly wide spectrum of people and would make a great album to play in the background during the Holidays. I think this would be the perfect thing to put on in the late afternoon in December while curling up with a good book or wrapping presents.

A "best of", not really a Christmas record.......2004-03-27

Potential purchasers should bear that in mind. As with the Medieval Baebes debut album it contains a small proportion of `holiday season' material, but most of it can be listened to without embarrassment at any time of the year. (In my experience, all of it can - even on a warm spring afternoon I can't bring myself to program out `In Dulci Jubilo', `The Holly...' etc).

Another thing potential purchasers should bear in mind - this compilation winds up being a better "best of" than the album of that name.

It's more representative - career-spanning and able to demonstrate the increasing ambition and complexity of the arrangements, and of Katharine Blake's compositions. (Of course, some of their experiments with modern instrumentation on the `Undrentide' album didn't work, but they don't appear here).

It's also more enjoyable on a basic musical level - there are no over-repetitive pieces, no odd song-fragments...nothing that drags. Or maybe there are a couple of weak spots - "I Am Eve" which goes on a little too long, and Audrey Evans's rendition of "L'amour de moi" which is suprisingly weak, and no substitute for the original featuring the much-missed Dorothy Carter - but these are easily forgiven.

Tracks:

Lux refulget
Verbum patris humanatur o o
Ora pro nobis beate Nicolae
Cantu miro summa laude
Instrumental piece
Veri solis radius
Divinum stillant
Instrumental piece
Orienti Oriens
Per parfum virginis
Congaudet hodie
Virga Jesse floruit
Senescente mundano filio
Radix Iesse castitatis lilium
Omnis curet homo
Benedicamus domino: Stirps Iesse florigeram
Resonemus hoc natali
Resonemus hoc natali (II)
Ad infantum triumphantum
Instrumental piece

Customer Reviews:

Relaxing Alternative Music for the Winter Season.......2007-01-10

"Shining Light" will lift your spirits during the gloomy winter months, and is a great alternative to over-played commercialized Christmas music. This is a wonderful collection of ancient music that provides a soothing and meditative experience.

Incidental liturgical music. Great listening........2005-12-16

'shining light' performed by Sequentia, the Ensemble for medieval music, is an excellent collection, running for over 70 minutes, of fragments of instrumental music and vocal music in Latin from monasteries in and around the southwestern French city of Limoges.

While this may not rate five stars as an academic piece, it is certainly worth the ranking as music easy on the ears, combining instrumental, male, and female choral music.

I wlll let the scholars fight it out. I simply find it an excellent collection of early music performances.

Sounds as pure as water.......2001-01-04

This disc is so beautiful, so full majesty and spirituality. It can quiet the stress and bring sweet comfort. The Sequentia singers so clean-sounding. Their voices have never sounded so pure, like the running of the streams. The chasms of the earth and the sea would be moved to the sounds.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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