Time of the Templars [Box set]

One of the more intriguing releases of the year is this three-disc set inspired by the Knights Templar, a Christian military order that appeared after the First Crusade of 1096. Originally dedicated to safeguarding those making pilgrimages to the Holy Land, their order grew in size and influence during the next two centuries. Before being disbanded by a mistrustful Pope in 1307, they were known as much for their skill in combat as their religious devotion. Those twin impulses--the martial and the spiritual--are well represented by the music in this collection. Disc one is titled "Music for a Knight," and presents a variety of tunes that vividly evoke the religious, social and emotional textures of the day, including selections from the "Carmina Burana" and songs by Hildegard von Bingen. Disc two, "Music of the Church," consists entirely of Gregorian chant, which exerts a powerfully hypnotic spell through its monophonic structure and impassioned a cappella vocals. The final disc, "Music of the Mediterranean," is a lively and varied mix of Middle Eastern songs and instrumentals of Jewish, Muslim and Christian origin. Collectively, this is the kind of music a Knight Templar might listen to for inspiration, contemplation, or just simple relaxation, and it remains just as accessible and vital to the modern listener. This handsomely produced Naxos box set makes a great entry point for anyone curious about the religious and secular music of that long-vanished era.

This set of 3 discs gives the mystique of the times of the Crusades, the mixing of Europe and Middle Eastern-Byzantine rich overlays of religion, chivalry and every-day celebration based on Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
As a medieval reenactor, I play the part of a minor king of Jerusalem and certainly have been influenced by this musical presentation as I feel it has incredible soul and passion that helps me better to understand the uniqueness of this area of the middle east (especially playing early Christian Music that is sung in Aramaic as it would have appeared during that period). It simply can take you as close to the Kingdom of Heaven as one can get and still be on the earth!
My many thanks for the technical aspects of the recordings in that they have beautiful balance and you can hear with all clarity the many instruments and voices that come together for this very unique sound!
I totally recommend this set for anyone who desires the experience of what the knights, pilgrims and the everyday folks, both visiting from Europe and those of the Mediterrean Sea who met each other producing this third kind of culture!

The Knights Templar returned to the public conscience through the DaVinci Code, if not through the vastly superior Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto EcoFoucault's Pendulum, and this three-disc set from Naxos reaches out to those who may wish to investigate this era, or at least its music, a bit more closely. Culled from a selection of earlier releases "Time of the Templars" gives a sampling of Spanish and Mediterranean music from the Middle Ages.

Disc one, "Music for a Knight" ranges from energetic drum and lute driven trouvère songs to contemplatively sung early examples of organum, the first polyphonic vocal settings, to represent both the Templars militaristic and faith-defending duties. Also present are some contemporary settings from the Carmina Burana (predating Carl Orff's by seven or eight centuries) along with a handful of compositions by Hildegard von Bingen.

Disc three is a sampling of "Music of the Mediterranean". Also drawn from a variety of earlier releases, many cuts feature the and Ensemble Unicorn. Featuring music from Syria, Macedonia, Croatia, Turkey and more, all are quite exciting and all make me want to check out the original discs.On the Way to Bethlehem (Music of the Medieval Pilgrim)

Disc two, "Music of the Church" is a selection of Gregorian Chant, well done but nothing special, although to be honest seventy-five minutes of chant is more than I'm usually interested in at one time. Still, a good chant disc belongs in every home and this one will fit the bill.

Sure, groups like Hespérion XXI, Sequentia and the Boston Camerata have all made definitive recordings of the music or kind of music you'll find in this set, but they all work for pricy European labels which can be hard to find and cost the same per disc and you'll pay for this entire set, and these performances certainly hold their own. An enjoyable listen in it own right, but also a good jumping off point for further exploration.