La Bele Marie: Songs to the Virgin from 13th-Century France

Track Listings
1. O maria o felix puerpera    
2. Pia mater gratie    
3. De la mere au sauveor    
4. O maria virginei    
5. Verbum bonum et suave    
6. Ave salus hominum    
7. Mainte changon au fait    
8. Ave maria gracia plena    
9. Perotin: Beata viscera    
10. Mundum renovavit    
11. Je te pri de cuer par amors    
12. Salve sancta parens    
13. Serena virginum    
14. De la tres douce Marie    
15. Ave virgo Virginum    
16. Mater patris et filia    
17. Ave nobilis venerabilis    

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The arrival of a new Anonymous 4 album has become as much a fall ritual as the turning of the leaves. However, there's nothing rote about their 12th album for Harmonia Mundi. All 17 selections are in honor of the Virgin Mary, ground familiar to fans of the ensemble's breakthrough first album, An English Ladymass (as well as 1998's Lammas Ladymass). Drawing upon both the Latin liturgy and chansons adapted from the French trouvère tradition of secular love songs, the combination of sources powerfully illustrates how strong devotion to Mary was in medieval France. But even more immediately striking is the New York-based vocal quartet's near-magical ability to enrapture their listeners. Whether they are coursing through a simply elegant monophonic chant such as "O maria o felix puerpera," a dazzlingly florid work like "Mater patris et filia," or the ethereal harmonies of "Mundum renovavit," their perfect intonation and pure tone are sublime. There's a special treat here, too--each of the ladies performs one piece solo. It's a chance to hear each singer's unique contribution to the group's inimitable sound: Marsha Genensky's exquisite smoothness, Susan Hellauer's dark-hued loveliness, Jacqueline Horner's creamy lightness, and Johanna Maria Rose's radiant resonance. It's a record that will transport you to another world, and yet one more star to add to Anonymous 4's constellation of celestially beautiful recordings. --Anastasia Tsioulcas

La Bele Marie: Songs to the Virgin from 13th-Century France, Music, Anonymous 4, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Early Music / Chant, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous Music, Vocal, Vocal Music
La Bele Marie: Songs to the Virgin from 13th-Century France
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Another masterpiece from Anonymous 4
  • The bewitching variety of Anonymous 4
 La Bele Marie: Songs to the Virgin from 13th-Century France
Anonymous 4
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. 1000: A Mass for the End of Time / Anonymous 4
  2. The Origin of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bingen
  3. Legends of St. Nicholas: Medieval Chant & Polyphony
  4. An English Ladymass: Medieval Chant and Polyphony
  5. The Lily and the Lamb: Chant and Polyphony from Medieval England

ASIN: B00006ALAG
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Tracks:

  1. O maria o felix puerpera
  2. Pia mater gratie
  3. De la mere au sauveor
  4. O maria virginei
  5. Verbum bonum et suave
  6. Ave salus hominum
  7. Mainte changon au fait
  8. Ave maria gracia plena
  9. Perotin: Beata viscera
  10. Mundum renovavit
  11. Je te pri de cuer par amors
  12. Salve sancta parens
  13. Serena virginum
  14. De la tres douce Marie
  15. Ave virgo Virginum
  16. Mater patris et filia
  17. Ave nobilis venerabilis

Amazon.com

The arrival of a new Anonymous 4 album has become as much a fall ritual as the turning of the leaves. However, there's nothing rote about their 12th album for Harmonia Mundi. All 17 selections are in honor of the Virgin Mary, ground familiar to fans of the ensemble's breakthrough first album, An English Ladymass (as well as 1998's Lammas Ladymass). Drawing upon both the Latin liturgy and chansons adapted from the French trouvère tradition of secular love songs, the combination of sources powerfully illustrates how strong devotion to Mary was in medieval France. But even more immediately striking is the New York-based vocal quartet's near-magical ability to enrapture their listeners. Whether they are coursing through a simply elegant monophonic chant such as "O maria o felix puerpera," a dazzlingly florid work like "Mater patris et filia," or the ethereal harmonies of "Mundum renovavit," their perfect intonation and pure tone are sublime. There's a special treat here, too--each of the ladies performs one piece solo. It's a chance to hear each singer's unique contribution to the group's inimitable sound: Marsha Genensky's exquisite smoothness, Susan Hellauer's dark-hued loveliness, Jacqueline Horner's creamy lightness, and Johanna Maria Rose's radiant resonance. It's a record that will transport you to another world, and yet one more star to add to Anonymous 4's constellation of celestially beautiful recordings. --Anastasia Tsioulcas

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Another masterpiece from Anonymous 4.......2003-02-16

For me what sets apart an Anonymous 4 recording, besides the wongerful singing is the presentation of a coherent program that only enhances the listening enjoyment. This disc contains anonymous chansons and conducti--with the exception of the "Beata viscera" of Perotin. These enchanting hymns and songs to the virgin Mary are vividly brought to life by the ensemble. I highly recommend this recording.

5 out of 5 stars The bewitching variety of Anonymous 4.......2002-10-23

The child-like simplicity beguiles the music's endless array of intricacies
and subtleties. The crisp phrasing, exquisite nuances, poingnant details of haunting beauty is heard throughout the disc. Perotin and Notre Dame over all, were lyrics of the first water.

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