Audio CD review:
Donald Greig, Donald Grieg, Stephen Charlesworth, Anonymous, Cancionero de Palacio Anonymous, Spanish Anonymous, Juan del Encina, Enrique, Francisco Fernandez Palero, Gabriel Mena - The Voice in the Garden: Spanish Songs and Motets 1480-1550

Donald Greig, Donald Grieg, Stephen Charlesworth, Anonymous, Cancionero de Palacio Anonymous, Spanish Anonymous, Juan del Encina, Enrique, Francisco Fernandez Palero, Gabriel Mena - The Voice in the Garden: Spanish Songs and Motets 1480-1550

Band: Donald Greig, Donald Grieg, Stephen Charlesworth, Anonymous, Cancionero de Palacio Anonymous, Spanish Anonymous, Juan del Encina, Enrique, Francisco Fernandez Palero, Gabriel Mena Title: The Voice in the Garden: Spanish Songs and Motets 1480-1550 Rating: Release Date: 05 October, 1993 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Mi libertad en sosiego 2: A la villa voy 3: Passe el agoa 4: Harto de tanta porfia 5: Fantasia (Tercer tono) 6: Por las sierras de Madrid 7: Ne reminiscaris, Domine 8: Dindirin, dindirin 9: Fantasia (Segundo tono) 10: Ave, Virgo, gratia plena 11: Yo creo que n'os dió Dios 12: Fantasia 10 13: Precor te, Domine 14: Tiento 15: Los sospiros no sosiegan 16: Paseávase el rey moro 17: Mi querer tanto vos quiere 18: Fantasia 18 19: Dentro en el vergel 20: Entra Mayo y sale Abril 21: Fantasia 12 22: La bella Malmaridada 23: Sancta Maria

Customer Reviews Extreme academia + GV not at their most polished Regarding the former, this recording by Gothic Voices provides no exception from their previous releases of pre-1500 music, unsurprisingly given Page's renown as a musicologist. There are always, with any recording of early music, 2 elements: a musicological one (do the resulting performances bear any relation to what was originally heard?) and an aesthetic one (does it sound good?). Indeed, there can be little doubt that Cancionero repertory was often performed by voices alone (interested readers should consult the article by Tess Knighton, "The a cappella heresy in Spain. . . ", Early Music XX (1992), 560-81). Yet Page is extreme in dismissing 'ensembles of mixed voices and instruments' and the use of viols as 'an anachronism (unfortunately). . . '[liner notes, p. 3] At least one extant contemporary account confirms that the romance - a polyphonic genre - was performed by minstrels and singers 'con sus laudas, y vihuelas, y otros ynstrumentos' (Knighton, 577-8). In addition, Oviedo's account of Don Juan (the heir to the throne) proves that people who sang Cancionero repertory (and therefore read notation) also played instruments - amongst them 'vihuelas de arco' [ie viols]. And it would have been interesting if Page had perhaps exploited the numerous descriptions of multiple voices [trebles] on the top part rather than his favoured one soprano or one alto, especially given his emphasis on scholarship. . . Turning to the aesthetic element, only personal taste can dictate whether this is a successful recording or not; yet for my money, this CD is quite inferior to GV's best recordings, such as 'The Service of Venus and Mars' (Hyperion CDA66238) or 'The Castle of Fair Welcome' (Hyperion CDA66194). Over-emphasis on pseudo-Hispanic accents creates a sound-world that is a) not particularly aesthetic (contributing to moments of patchy intonation), and b) somewhat pastiche (compare these performances with those [also a cappella] of La Colombina ['Canciones, romances, sonetos', Accent ACC95111]). The devotional villancicos and motets are better done [tracks 10 + 13 etc], although it is in fact the instrumentalists - Chris Wilson (vihuela) and Andrew Lawrence-King (harp) - who are the true stars of this recording, providing solos that are both sensitive and suave, and even virtuosic. In short, it is difficult to know for whom this recording could be recommended: for those new to this group, there are numerous outstanding GV recordings which should be explored above this one (alongside the 2 above-named, try also the Missa Caput and Missa Veterem hominem recordings [CDA66857 + CDA66919]). Those looking for a cappella recordings of Cancionero repertory are encouraged to consider either La Colombina (named above), the Orlando Consort ('The Toledo Summit', HMU 907328) or Ensemble Gilles Binchois ('Sola m'ire', Virgin Veritas 7243 5 45359 2 5). For those simply wanting a recording of Cancionero repertory, the list is literally endless - from the fantastic (if anachronistic) performances of Jordi Savall (on Auvidis Astree and Alia Vox) to smaller ensembles (eg Circa 1500 [on CRD] + New London Consort [Linn]), or even interpretations which are arabic-inspired (Mudejar [MA recordings]) or flamenco in style (Mercedes Hernandes and the United Continuo Ensemble [Raum Klang]). It just depends on what you're after. Beautiful Spanish Music They are my favorite early music vocal ensemble because they let the music speak for itself. This is the first cd by Gothic Voices I ever bought and it remains my favorite. The pieces on this recording are beautiful examples of the different styles found in Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries. There are polyphonic motets and homophonic love songs as well as some pieces for solo vihuela (related to the guitar) and solo harp. The rhythms are often lively and the harmonies full and sweet. The singing is wonderful- very focused and pure, in a vibrato-free early style, but each voice still has character and expression. One of the things that distinguishes Gothic Voices is the organization of some of their their recordings by themes, not just by time period or composer. The theme of this one is stated in the wonderful notes that are included: "This recording is an exploration. . . of men and women in their fallen state, expelled from Eden with a sword. " In many of the pieces there is a sense of longing for something lost- the loss of innocence or of a lost love, or the longing for paradise. I don't think you can go wrong with a cd by Gothic Voices. And if you are new to the group, this cd would be a nice place to start. . You can see a complete list of all Donald Greig, Donald Grieg, Stephen Charlesworth, Anonymous, Cancionero de Palacio Anonymous, Spanish Anonymous, Juan del Encina, Enrique, Francisco Fernandez Palero, Gabriel Mena discography, or go back to the Donald Greig, Donald Grieg, Stephen Charlesworth, Anonymous, Cancionero de Palacio Anonymous, Spanish Anonymous, Juan del Encina, Enrique, Francisco Fernandez Palero, Gabriel Mena tabs