Courts in Colour
Traditional melodies from four important courts of the Middle Ages: Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Gaon of Tiberias, Saladin of Egypt, and Alfonso X of Castile and León. Cantigas bring them to life on authentic mediæval instruments.
Zana Clarke ganassi recorder, voice flute, rebec, yayla-tanbur, voice
Caroline Downer vielle, harp, hurdy-gurdy
Philip Gunter oud, lute, darabouka, bells
Simon Gorman darabouka, bells, rainstick
Caroline Downer composer
Philip Gunter composer
Moniot d'Arras composer
Guillaume d'Amiens composer
Bernart de Ventadorn composer
La Comtessa de Dia composer
Thibaut IV de Champagne composer
Twenty-one vibrant tracks draw on the courts of Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122–1204), the Gaon of Tiberias (1000–1077), Saladin of Egypt (1138–1193) and Alfonso X of Castile and León (1252–1284). Cantigas explore sound and expression within that historical frame, using an array of authentic mediæval instruments from Europe and the Middle East so that each court’s style and character can be heard.
Every piece is a Cantigas composition based on an original melody. The group plays handcrafted Australian reproductions of period instruments in mean-tone temperament, with monophonic lines, drones, countermelodies and live improvisation recorded in single takes.
Reviews
[An] excellently produced and performed disc which will bring much joy to lovers of early music.
played with delicacy, precision and power ... Thanks to Cantigas for finding this music and performing it.
If you like folk music, you will probably go nuts over it
Artist
Cantigas
Cantigas recreate the music of the Middle Ages with authentic compositions which use techniques of mediaeval performance practice such as countermelodies, drones, rhythm parts and creative improvisation.
Audio preview
Tracks
- A l'entrade del tens clar Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter (Anonymous) 1:26
- Gaite de la Tor Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter (Anonymous) 1:18
- Ce fut en mai Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter Moniot d'Arras 1:55
- C'est la fins Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter Guillaume d'Amiens 2:02
- Can vei la lauzeta Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter Bernart de Ventadorn 4:52
- A chantar Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter La Comtessa de Dia 4:22
- De bone amour Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter Thibaut IV de Champagne 2:30
- Hebrew Melody I and II (Niggunim) Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 6:12
- Hebrew Melody III Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 2:47
- Hebrew Melody IV Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 2:29
- Hebrew Melody V Fun shtot tsu shtot Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 2:52
- Hebrew Melody VI Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 1:21
- Turkish Melody I (Taqsim) Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 6:16
- Turkish Semai Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 4:37
- Turkish Melody II (Taqsim) Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 6:49
- Cantiga 353 Quen a omagen Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 1:53
- Cantiga 3 (supp) Alegria Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 2:55
- Cantiga 384 A que por muygran Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 2:19
- Cantiga 10 (supp) Como o demo Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 3:38
- Cantiga 2 (supp) Virgen Madre gloriosa Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 5:16
- Cantiga 375 En todo nos faz merçee Zana Clarke Caroline Downer Philip Gunter 3:13
Performers
- Cantigas
- Zana Clarke · ganassi recorder, voice flute, rebec, yayla-tanbur, voice
- Caroline Downer · vielle, harp, hurdy-gurdy
- Philip Gunter · oud, lute, darabouka, bells
- Simon Gorman · darabouka, bells, rainstick
Composers
Zana Clarke
Zana Clarke brings the ganassi recorder into mediaeval courts and free improvisation alike, spinning monophonic melodies and new writing on rebec, voice flute and yayla-tanbur with Cantigas and the duo Nardoo.
Caroline Downer
Caroline Downer is a Melbourne early-music performer on vielle, harp and hurdy-gurdy, working with the mediæval ensemble Cantigas.
Philip Gunter
Philip Gunter is a Melbourne musician who plays oud, lute, darabouka and bells with the early-music ensemble Cantigas, and writes new pieces drawn from mediaeval source melodies.
Where to listen
Courts in Colour is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Courts in Colour is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3177
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 71 minutes 2 seconds
- Recording Engineer
- Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley - Venue
- Move Records Studio
- Release date
- 1996
- Musical work
copyright - © 1996 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1996 Move Records
- Categories
- Classical, Early music
- Genres
- Early Music, World & Cross-cultural
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574317725
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