Music from northern Italy written between the second decade of the 14th century and the early years of the 15th century.
Includes The Rossi Manuscript, a collection of early treccento songs; a selection of madrigals by Maestro Piero and madrigals and ballatas by Bartolino da Padova. This fascinating disc includes notes on the composers, the works, the context of the music, compositional techniques, translations and stylistic analysies of each piece.
Press quotes:
“the occasional track can do wonders to relieve sensory biliousness if you're indulging in an unrelieved diet of orchestral and/or operatic music: epicurean excess for the ear.”
Cum Altre Uccele (anon.) Per Tropo Fede (anon.) Or Qua Compagni (anon.) Lavandose le Mane (anon.) Chiamando un'astorella (anon.) Nel Mio Bel Orto (anon.) All'ombra d'un perlaro (Maestro Piero) Ogni Diletto (Maestro Piero) Quando L'aire Comenza (Maestro Piero) Si Come al Canto Della Bella Iguana (Maestro Piero) Con Bracchi Assai (Maestro Piero) Cavalcando con un Giovine Acorto (Maestro Piero) La Douce Cere (Bartolino da Padova) Serva Ziascuno (Bartolino da Padova) Le Aurate Chiome (Bartolino da Padova) Alba Columba (Bartolino da Padova) Imperial Sedendo (Bartolino da Padova) Sempre Dona T'amai (Bartolino da Padova) Non Corer Troppo (Bartolino da Padova)
John Griffiths studied vihuela and lute with Hopkinson Smith and Eugen Müller Dombois in Basel, and has published a broad range of books and articles on the vihuela. He has performed extensively in Australia, Europe, Asia and the USA both as a soloist and as a member of the ensemble La Romanesca. He was awarded the cross of Official de la Orden de Isabel la Católica in 1993 for his contribution to Spanish music and culture.
The Ensemble of the Fourteenth Century is a collective of specialist singers and instrumentalists brought together for the Fourteenth Century Recording Project. The ensemble was initially formed around the leading Australian mediaeval ensemble La Romanesca, which was expanded to provide the varied instrumental and vocal combinations required by the repertoire.