Cornago / Secular Music of 15th-century Spain

Cornago: Missa de la mapa mundi: w/ Secular Music of 15th-century Spain
His Majestie's Clerkes - Paul Hillier / The Newberry Consort - Mary Springfels
Harmonia Mundi USA 907083
Harmonia Mundi "Suite" 7907083

Kyrie
Gloria
Credo
Sanctus
Agnus Dei
Anon: Propiñan de Melyor (instrumental)
Anon: Falla con misuras - La Spagna (instrumental)
Isaac: La Spagna - Agnus Dei II from Missa La Bassadanza (instrumental)
Anon: Instrumental piece
Anon: Instrumental piece
Cornago / Ockeghem: Que's mi vida, preguntays? (2 voices, instruments)
Belmonte / Cornago: Pues mi dicha non consiente (voice, instruments)
Cornago: Morte merce, gentile aquill' altera (voice, instruments)
Juan Urrede: Nunca fue pena major (voice, instruments)
Anon: Niña y viña (voice, instruments)
Anon: Muy crueles bozes dan (voice, instruments)
Gijón: Al dolor de mi cuydado (voice, instruments)
Cornago: Porque más sin duda creas (voice, instruments)
Anon: Los hombres con gran plazer (voice, instruments)
Anon: La Spagna (instrumental)
Francisco de la Torre: La Spagna (instrumental)
Juan de Triana: Maravýllome dél (instrumental)

Performers (tracks #2-6) - His Majestie's Clerkes: Paul Hillier (solo, track #1), Thomas Nodine, Randolph Petilos, Jeffrey Strauss, David Stutz, Peter Becker, Drew Minter

Performers (tracks #7-23) - The Newberry Consort: David Douglass (vielle, viol), Judith Malafronte (voice), Kevin Mason (lute, viol), Drew Minter (voice), Mary Springfels (viols)

Playing time: 66'

Recording date: November 1991

Cornago's activity is attested during the middle decades of the 15th century, and the Mass is a unique example of the period. It is contemporaneous with Dufay's cantus firmus settings, and shares the distinction with the Missa Se la face ay pale of being the earliest known mass based on a secular tune (track #1). In general design, it is very similar to Franco-Flemish polyphony of the period and indeed it has been suggested that Cornago came from Belgium.

The songs include both lighter and more serious pieces, as well as several distinct settings of the famous bass-theme, La Spagna. Item #12 is a song by Cornago for which Ockeghem composed a fourth voice, apparently during his trip to Spain. Indeed, the Mass has some stylistic similarity to Ockeghem's output as well, though the tunes are certainly unique. The songs recorded here present some of the variety of Spain in this period.

Similar programs:

Isabel I, Reina de Castilla (Musicas reales, volume 3): Luces y Sombras en el tiempo de Isabel la Católica, la primera gran Reina del Renacimiento
La Capella Reial de Catalunya / Hespèrion XXI - Jordi Savall
Alia Vox 9838 (SACD)
1492 - Music from the age of discovery: Waverly Consort - Michael Jaffee
EMI Reflexe 54506

Some other examples of Spanish secular music from this period, and later:

El Cancionero de la Colombina, 1451-1506: Música en el tiempo de Cristóbal Colón
Hespèrion XX - Jordi Savall
Astrée 8763
From a Spanish Palace Songbook: Music from the time of Christopher Columbus
Margaret Philpot, Shirley Rumsey, Christopher Wilson
Hyperion 66454
Canciones, Romances, Sonetos: From Juan del Encina to Lope de Vega
La Colombina
Accent 95111

A more broadly-based recording including sacred & secular music from this era and beyond:

Spanish and Mexican Renaissance Vocal Music: Music in the Age of Columbus / Music in the New World
Hilliard Ensemble
EMI Reflexe 54341

Other fine mixed-genre surveys related to Spain in this period:

El Cancionero de la Catedral de Segovia: Ensemble Daedalus
Accent 9176
El Cancionero de Montecassino: Musica religiosa & profana
La Capella Reial de Catalunya / Hespèrion XXI - Jordi Savall
Alia Vox 9816 (2 CDs)

Other recordings by His Majestie's Clerkes:

Billings: A Land of Pure Delight: His Majestie's Clerkes - Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi USA 907048
Ghoostly Psalmes: His Majestie's Clerkes - Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi USA 907128

And other recordings by the Theatre of Voices, as Hillier's ensemble was renamed:

Lassus: St. Matthew Passion: Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier, dir.
Harmonia Mundi USA 907076
Carols from the Old and New Worlds: Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier, dir.
Harmonia Mundi USA 907079
Josquin Desprez: Missa de Beata Virgine / Jean Mouton: Motets: Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier, dir.
Harmonia Mundi USA 907136
Tallis: Lamentations, Motets, String Music: Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier, dir. / The King's Noyse - David Douglass
Harmonia Mundi USA 90.7154
The Age of Cathedrals: Music from the Magnus Liber Organi
Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier, dir.
Harmonia Mundi USA 907157
Pärt: De Profundis: Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi USA 907182
Hoquetus: Medieval European Vocal Music
Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi USA 907185
Cage: Litany for the Whale: Terry Riley / Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi USA 907187
Monastic Song: 12-Century Monophonic Chant - Peter Abelard
Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi USA 907209
The Cries of London: Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier / Fretwork
Harmonia Mundi USA 90 7214
Carols from the Old & New Worlds - Volume II: Pro Arte Singers / Indiana University Children's Chamber Choir / Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi USA 907233
Fragments: Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi USA 907276
The Christmas Story: The Theatre of Voices / Ars Nova Copenhagen - Paul Hillier
Harmonia Mundi USA 807565
Byrd: Mass for Four Voices: w/ Edwards / Sheppard / Tallis
Theatre of Voices - Paul Hillier
ECM New Series 21512

Finally, other recordings by the Newberry Consort:

Musick for Severall Friends: Seventeenth Century English Musick
Newberry Consort - Mary Springfels
Harmonia Mundi USA 907013
¡Ay Amor!: Spanish 17th c. Songs & Theatre Music
Newberry Consort - Mary Springfels
Harmonia Mundi "Suite" 7907022
Il Solazzo: Music for a Medieval Banquet
Newberry Consort - Mary Springfels
Harmonia Mundi USA 907038
Wanderers' Voices: Medieval Cantigas & Minnesang
Newberry Consort - Mary Springfels
Harmonia Mundi USA 907082
The Golden Dream: 17th century music from the Low Countries
Newberry Consort - Mary Springfels
Harmonia Mundi "Suite" 7907123
A Candle in the Dark: Elizabethan Songs & Consort Music
Newberry Consort - Mary Springfels
Harmonia Mundi USA 907140
Villon to Rabelais: 16th Century Music of the Streets, Theatres, and Courts
Newberry Consort - Mary Springfels
Harmonia Mundi USA 907226
Puzzles and Perfect Beauty: Newberry Consort - Mary Springfels
Noyse 01

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Todd M. McComb

Cornago / Secular Music of 15th-century Spain

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