The feats of King Arthur and his Knights have inspired artistic creation in many art forms. In this disc we hear how troubadours spread their stories and we journey through twelfth-, thirteenth- and fourteenth-century Europe to encounter the Arthurian musical traditions of Germany, Spain, France and England. Full of allusions to legend, and also to contemporary events, the songs are masterpieces of their time. The composers include Alfonso X el Sabio of Spain and Richard the Lionheart, whose Je nulls homs priz is one of the most beautiful of all medieval songs.
"The legend of King Arthur and his knights has stretched from the twelfth century to Hollywood films of our own time, the story often retold in music. Originating among the strolling minstrels of England and France, it was to spread across Europe into Spain, Portugal and Italy. Passed down through generations the names of the music’s originators have long been forgotten, and no doubt the melody and words would have changed many times. The present disc offers fourteen tracks that display this wide dispersion, at times just a little tenuous in their connection with Arthur. Playing reproduced instruments in some measure replicating those thought to have been used, it is, with all due respect to the performers, an educated guess at the sounds produced.
The Capilla Antigua de Chinchilla was formed in Spain in 2002, its six members playing a mix of string, woodwind and percussion, most joining in as singers with the required rustic enthusiasm and vocal quality. As my local concert hall is a leading European venue for Early Music, I am much attuned to the music, but would recognise it is an acquired taste, and if you want to sample try track 5, an anonymous English song of the 12th century. The recorded sound has the warming reverberation of a church acoustic." --David's Review Corner, August 2012
Tags:
Medieval Music
