0ur opinion: :For their debut recording (made in 1987), the ensemble Sinfonye put together a program focusing on (as the subtitle puts it) 'the Medieval Woman: Lover, Poet, Patroness and Saint.' Naturally, Sinfonye includes 'A chantar m'er,' the only lyric by a female troubadour (the Comtessa Beatriz de Dia) to have survived with a melody; they also include two examples of the
chanson de femme, a genre that, though written by a man, depicts a female narrator lamenting the loss of her beloved to another. The centerpiece of the disc, however, is the
Cantigas de Amigo by the Galician
trovador Martin Codax: this six-song cycle depicts a young woman alternately lamenting the absence of her seafaring lover and celebrating his imminent return. Very little is known for certain about how or even whether these songs were accompanied by instruments; Sinfonye uses various combinations of medieval fiddle, hurdy-gurdy, harp, and drum--and even unaccompanied voice. Singer Mara Kiek, whose background is in Balkan folk singing, has a throaty, slightly rustic tone yet sings with a vivid eloquence fully worthy of the material.
--Matthew Westphal
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Disc 1:- 1. Ondas do mar de vigo (Sea waves of Vigo)
- 2. Mandad' ei comigo (My love's coming home)
- 3. Mia jrmana fremosa treides comigo (Fair sister, come haste with me)
- 4. Aj deus se sab'ora meu amgio (Ah, God, could thou, my lover, know)
- 5. quantas sabedes amar amigo (All ye who are of love's fair train)
- 6. Eno sagrado en vigo (On holy ground in Vigo)
- 7. Aj ondas que eu vin veer (Waves that I came to see)
Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
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* Unusual and gorgeous ...
l have a big collection of early music but this recording is unique, mainly due to the vocal talents of Mara Kiek. Her slightly rough style is a wonderful foil to the primitive quality of the medieval instruments, and suggests the Middle Eastern origins of the music better than a classically trained voice would. The album as a whole is seamlessly presented, but the clear standout is the song cycle "Cantigas de Amigo," by 13th Century Galician trovador Martin Codax -- a haunting series of poems that reflect the yearning of a girl for her lover at sea. Highly recommended!
Buyer Rating: -
an exotic medieval atmosphere
This album is unique , a one of a kind expirience. for a person who enjoy medieval music this one is a killer! like a dark, religiouse, sensual ritual full of exotique colors & smells. "sinfonie" succeed to create a most fasinayting interpretation of the material and the resault is very impressive! mara's voice is more like a crying gipssy then an angle but it is hypnoticly beautifull in its own way... the sounde & the playing of andrew lawrence kings harp are superb. in short, if u dig me then buy it !!! come on..... i'm waiting here beside my computer.
Buyer Rating: -
Beautiful
This was one of my first introductions to "early music." l have since bought many more, but this is still one of the best. The performances are fantastic; singing, playing, everything. The middle eastern qualities of early European music really comes out on this disc. The singing and playing have a more folky, rather than opera-like sound.
These songs are from the days when music was just starting to come out of the church and into secular society. Singing about love between a man and a woman!?! How scandalous!
l am very interested in European languages and history and l find the lyrics (also translated into English)written in medieval Provencale, French, Gallego, and Catalan particularly captivating. Booklet also contains extensive liner notes in English and French.
