ASCETIC, AUSTERE AND AWESOME SACRED I2TH-CENTURY MUSIC FROM PARIS. (VOLUME TWO)
This is the second CD of austere and beautiful music attributed to this mysterious master, Magister Leoninus. Red Byrd's new recording includes compositons for Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. Complimenting the music of their first disc, this duo sings Office responsories for the major feasts, and at Matins and also for processions.
Leoninus, we are told, wrote a cycle of two-part settings of the most important chants in the liturgical year - Christmas, Easter, Assumption and other feasts; this cycle was called 'Magnus liber organi'(the Great Book of 'organum'). .
Performing the 'duplum' line in 'organum' is a skill that is difficult to regain at the end of the twentieth century. The notated music involves much creativity, and I tend to think guesswork, on the part of the performer. In addition, the sustained notes included in many of these compositions are a challenge to breath control and the sanity of the singer taking part. Fortunately, for our purpose, Red Byrd gives a really enlightened and vocally sound rendition of this music. The recording ends with 'Benedicamus Domino', which always concluded the hours of office. The chant parts are sung by a schola of six men.
Red Byrd believes that "the point of singing the music of the past is to illuminate the present", ( to which I heartily agree). Its constant members are John Potter and Richard Weistreich, who are joined by other singers and instrumentalists with a strong grounding in early music to explore old and new. To my thinking it is almost a 'must' that one has both Volumes One and Two of this set in order to fully appreciate this music.
So go into the most stark and somewhat 'spooky' room that you can find (it might help to have some religious symbols, such as a crucifix ) and light a candle (no electricity please) and simply absorb and enjoy a moment from the past!
JEROME WEBER, MUSIC CRITIC: "These two discs (Volumes one and two) are the finest of the few recordings devoted to music of this period..."
The package comes with pertinent information in English and the text in Latin translated to English.