Llibre Vermell de Montserrat

Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
Hespèrion XX - Jordi Savall
EMI (Electrola) "Reflexe" 1C 065 45 641 [LP]
EMI 7243 8 26516 2 8 [CD]
EMI (Electrola) "Reflexe" CDM 7 63071 2 [CD]
Virgin Classics "Veritas" 472 962-2 [CD]
Virgin "Veritas" 7243-5 61174 2 [CD]
EMI Classics 628658-2 [CD]

Contents:

  1. O Virgo splendens
  2. Stella splendens
  3. Laudemus virginem
  4. Los set goytsa
  5. Splendens ceptigera
  6. Polorum regina
  7. Cuncti simus concanentes
  8. Mariam matrem virginem
  9. Imperayritz de la ciutat joyosa
  10. Ad mortem festinamus
  11. O Virgo splendens

Performers

Playing time: 59' 19"

Recording site and date:
St. Savinien [July 1978];
Rel.: 1979 (LP), 1989 (Reflexe 63071), 2000 (EMI 26516), 2010 (EMI 628658)

Compilation:
EMI Classics 7243 8 26515 2 [CDx6] REFLEXE Vol. 8 Stationen Europäischer Musik
Virgin 7243 5 61 964 2 1 [CDx8] España Antigua

Reviewed in:
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 13/3- (January/February 1990)

Comments:
Information from CD (François Velde), and LP (Pierre-F. Roberge).

A collection of late 14th century songs written by monks of the monastery of Montserrat (Catalunya), to provide pilgrims with an appropriately decorous repertoire of songs and dances. They are in the French Ars Nova style, and mostly in Latin (two are in Catalonian).

François Velde

In many ways, the "Red Book" of the Montserrat monastery near Barcelona is one of the most Spanish of sources for this period. It is given complete here (meaning it is not particularly long), and in a very sonically dense interpretation. There really is no other cycle quite like it, in terms of combining polyphonic devices with the most innocent of folk themes.

A few other recordings of note:

Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
Pilgrim Songs & Dances
New London Consort - Philip Pickett
L'Oiseau Lyre 433 186
Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
La route des pèlerins de Montserrat
Ensemble Anonymus - Claude Bernatchez
Analekta 2 8001
Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
w/ Cantigas de Santa Maria
Alla Francesca
Opus 111 30-131

For a more thorough listing, please see the Llibre Vermell discography.

A classic older recording featuring music from this region over a broader span of time:

Le Moyen Age Catalan
De l'Art Roman à la Renaissance
Ensemble Ars Musicæ de Barcelona - Enric Gispert
Harmonia Mundi musique d'abord 190051

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Todd M. McComb