Track Listing

1. Cantiga de Santa Mar�a 384, A que por gran fremosura � chamada Fror das frores
2. Cantigas (7) de Amigo, song cycle for voice and accompaniment (music missing from 1 cantiga): 01 Ondas do mare de Vigo
3. Cantigas (7) de Amigo, song cycle for voice and accompaniment (music missing from 1 cantiga): 02 Mandad' ei comigo
4. Cantigas (7) de Amigo, song cycle for voice and accompaniment (music missing from 1 cantiga): 03 Mia irmana fremosa
5. Cantigas (7) de Amigo, song cycle for voice and accompaniment (music missing from 1 cantiga): 04 Ai Deus
6. Cantigas (7) de Amigo, song cycle for voice and accompaniment (music missing from 1 cantiga): 05 Quantas sabedes amare amigo
7. Cantigas (7) de Amigo, song cycle for voice and accompaniment (music missing from 1 cantiga): 06 Eno sagrado en Vigo
8. Cantigas (7) de Amigo, song cycle for voice and accompaniment (music missing from 1 cantiga): 07 Ai ondas
9. Cantiga de Santa Mar�a 292, Muito demostra a Virgen, a Sennor esperital
10. Cantiga de Santa Mar�a 322, A Virgen, que de Deus Madre �ste, Filla e criada
11. Fontis in Rivulum (Las Huelgas Codex): for harp
12. Cantiga de Santa Mar�a 196, Sempre punnou muit' a Virgen per u fosse conno�uda
13. Cantiga de Santa Mar�a 362, Ben pode Santa Mar�a seu lum' ao �ego dar
14. Cantiga de Santa Mar�a 103, Quena Virgen ben servir�
15. Cantigas de Jesucristo 424, Pois que dos Reys Nostro Sennor
16. Fontis in Rivulum (Las Huelgas Codex): for voice and harp
17. Cantiga de Santa Mar�a 221, Ben per est� aos reis d'amaren Santa Mar�a

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #364688 in Music
• Released on: 1997-09-16
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
One of the richest sources of medieval music is the 13th-century Spanish collection of songs known as the Cantigas de Santa Maria (Songs of Holy Mary). Compiled by King Alfonso X, these songs represent a fascinating variety of nonliturgical tunes and poems that tell us a great deal about life in the Middle Ages. Most of the songs express love, reverence, and praise for the Virgin Mary and include stories of miracles she performed. Reflecting the popular traditions of the French troubadours, the melodies are expressive, lyrical, and easily singable, and often show a lively rhythmic structure. Other tunes are more improvisatory in nature. The members of Sonus are expert musicians who give each song its own flavor by appropriate choice of voice and instruments, which includes soprano voice, recorder, shawm, harp, chitarra, oud, and a variety of percussion. The very attractive program also includes poetry and songs from another collection, Cantigas de amigo, and a lovely piece from the famous convent at Las Huelgas. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews

Medieval Spanish music shines
I am currently enrolled in a medieval/Renaissance Spanish literature class and have just attended a lecture about pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela. This music was used as a soundtrack and immediately captured my attention with its striking combination of recorder, hurdy gurdy, harp and vocals, as well as the fact that it is based on various cantigas de amigo and was penned by Alfonso X el Sabio. It reinforces what we have covered in class by setting the texts to lively, rhythmical melodies that show both French and Arabic influences.

This CD is a fascinating overview of medieval Spanish Mariano religious texts and poetry and songs performed capably by Sonus. The tunes are by turns danceable and a touch melancholy in places, and the instruments and voices are a perfect match for each other. "Echoes of Spain" proved a very melodious introduction to medieval Spanish music and I recommend it to all early music fans.

Beautiful.
This music is beautiful and expressive. Words cannot describe such pure sound.