rondellus.ee
RS Records, RS 0906
2009
Adoratur rosa
Music from 12th and 13th century Spain
1. Maria, virgo virginum [3:12] Codex Las Huelgas (No. 52, f. 34v.) Hu 52
voice MS ML, percussion RS
2. Ad superni regis decus [3:40] Codex Calixtinus [f. 215 (186)] cc 98
Magister Albericus archiepiscopus Bituricensis
voice MS EK
3. Quen a festa [2:47] Cantigas de Santa Maria No. 195 CSM 195
symphony, fiddle KS, recorder, percussion RS
4. Santa Maria amar [7:06] Cantigas de Santa Maria No. 7 CSM 7
voice ML MS EK, fiddle KS, recorder, lute
5. A Virgen mui groriosa [5:12] Cantigas de Santa Maria No.42 CSM 42
voice MS EK ML, fiddle KS, symphony, recorder, percussion RS
6. Vox nostra resonet [2:01] Codex Calixtinus [f. 216v. (187v.)] cc 102
Magister Iohannes Legalis
voice EK MS ML
7. Helizabet Zacharie [9:08] Codex Las Huelgas (No. 69, f. 63r.) Hu 69
voice MS EK, fiddle KS, lute
8. Intra viridarium [2:42] Codex Las Huelgas (No. 79, f. 63v.) Hu 79
voice MS EK, percussion RS
9. Nas mentes [3:54] Cantigas de Santa Maria No. 29 CSM 29
voice EK MS ML, fiddle KS, symphony, recorder
10. Quen a omagen [4:52] Cantigas de Santa Maria No. 353 CSM 353
voice ML, lute, fiddle KS, recorder
11. Gratulantes celebremus festum [3:10] Codex Calixtinus [f. 214v. (185v.)] cc 97
Magister Goslenus episcopus Suessionis
voice EK MS ML
12. Angelorum laude digna [8:57] Codex Las Huelgas (No. 60, f. 48r.) Hu 60
voice MS voice EK, lute, fiddle KS EK, symphony
13. Santa María, estrela do dia [4:15] Cantigas de Santa Maria No. 100 CSM 100
voice MS ML EK, fiddle KS, recorder, percussion RS MS
RONDELLUS
Maria Staak — voice, symphony, percussion
Eve Kopli — voice, fiddle
Marilin Lips — voice
Kristi Saac — fiddle
Eva-Maria Ellec — recorder
Robert Staak — lute, percussion
Total time: 60:57
Recorded at the Tallinn Merchant Guild
from 25th to 27th October 2008
Recording engineer: Maido Maadik
© ℗ 2009 Rondellus/Estonian Public Broadcasting Company
Produced by Robert Staak
Design by Irina Tammis
www.rondellus.ee
Codex Calixtinus (12th century)
Since
the Middle Ages, Santiago de Compostela has been one of the most
important pilgrimage destinations after Rome and Jerusalem. In the 9th
century, a shrine, and later a cathedral, were erected at the burial
place of the Apostle James (Jacob). The miracle performing power of the
saint's worldly remains was confirmed several times, thereby inspiring
new pilgrims.
The Codex Calixtinus, or the Liber Sancti Jacobi
(Book of St. Jacob), was written between 1130-1140. The greater part of
the manuscript includes the descriptions of James' life and miracles,
although the book has also been called the world's oldest tourist
guidebook, because it includes a detailed guide for pilgrims. The first
section of the manuscript includes sermons and liturgical material
together with Gregorian chant melodies. As far as music is concerned,
however, the final section of the book, which includes 20 polyphonic
compositions (one for three voices, and the rest for two), is especially
interesting. The compositions, written in clear and beautiful
calligraphic handwriting, are excellent examples of early organum
predating the Notre-Dame school.
Codex Las Huelgas (13th century)
This
manuscript was written at the beginning of the 14th century by the nuns
of the convent of Las Huelgas, at the command of the Abbess Maria
Gonzalez de Agüero. However, the music it contains is considerably
older, originating from 1241-1288. The large Codex Las Huelgas is one of
the most important sources from mediaeval Spain. It contains almost 100
polyphonic mass settings, 60 motets for 2-4 voices, and 30 conductus.
The manuscript is now kept at the convent of Las Huelgas near the small
town of Burgos, and it disproves the hypothesis that Gregorian chant and
singing at mass were the preogative of monks (men).
Cantigas de Santa Maria (13th century)
The
large collection of songs in Galician-Portuguese language, The Cantigas
de Santa Maria, was assembled at the court of King Alfonso X the Wise
(1221-1284) of Castile, León and Galicia in the second half of the 13th
century. The King himself may have contributed to some of the songs in
the collection, of which there are more than 400. This is one of the
largest collections of monophonic songs from the Middle Ages. The great
majority of the songs are narratives of miracles of the Blessed Virgin.
The Cantigas de Santa Maria are preserved in four manuscripts, of which
three are in Spain (two in the Monastery of Escorial and one in Madrid)
and one in Florence. The two most important are the Escorial
manuscripts. They contain a series of beautiful and richly illuminated
miniatures of musicians playing various instruments, and of others
describing visually the miracle recounted in the song.