The Mirror of Narcissus

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The second Gothic Voices recording was something of a milestone: the first recording of 14-century music performed by voices alone. The absence of instruments permits very precise tuning (no small matter in this repertory) and doesn't obscure Machaut's poetry (which was admired by no less than Geoffrey Chaucer). Belying its scholarly-but-dull reputation, Gothic Voices sings with plenty of energy and rhythmic snap; the monophonic songs, performed by a single unaccompanied voice, come off particularly well. The best example of this disc's achievement is the famous "Douce dame jolie," which has been done as everything from a catchy little ditty to a fife-and-drum march: Margaret Philpot performs it as what it is--the forlorn plea of a spurned lover. --Matthew Westphal

Tracks:

The Mirror Of Narcissus: Dame, de qui toute ma joie vient - ballade
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Foy porter - virelai
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Dame, je sui cilz-Fins cuers doulz - motet
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Tuit mi penser - virelai
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Dame, mon cuer en vous remaint - rondelet
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Dame, a qui - virelai
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Biaute qui toutes autres pere - ballade
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Je vivroie liement - virelai
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Rose, liz, printemps, verdure - rondeau
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Dame, a vous sans retollir - virelai
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Amours me fait desirer - ballade
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Douce dame jolie - virelai
The Mirror Of Narcissus: Inviolata genitrix-Felix virgo-Ad te suspiramus - motet

Amazon.com

The second Gothic Voices recording was something of a milestone: the first recording of 14-century music performed by voices alone. The absence of instruments permits very precise tuning (no small matter in this repertory) and doesn't obscure Machaut's poetry (which was admired by no less than Geoffrey Chaucer). Belying its scholarly-but-dull reputation, Gothic Voices sings with plenty of energy and rhythmic snap; the monophonic songs, performed by a single unaccompanied voice, come off particularly well. The best example of this disc's achievement is the famous "Douce dame jolie," which has been done as everything from a catchy little ditty to a fife-and-drum march: Margaret Philpot performs it as what it is--the forlorn plea of a spurned lover. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Unmatched Machaut.......2007-04-30

I'd forgotten this disk in a corner of my collection until I heard an concert by another group, Liber UnUsualis. I reviewed their CD "Unrequited" quite enthusiastically, but then I searched for "The Mirror of Narcissus" and listened to the two head-to-head. Results: both good, but "The Mirror" is more intense, more passionate, and more artful in articulating the hockets and other effects of Ars Nova heterophony. If Gothic Voices ever had a reputation of being "academic but dull", that was a bad rap. This performance is fiery.

Great musicianship and purity of tone.......2006-01-28

This is one of my favorite early music CDs and perhaps my favorite Machaut CD. Wonderful material, intelligently presented, sung by gorgeous voices with perfect pitch control. Groups like Gothic Voices are sometimes criticized for being too perfect (i.e., real medieval musicians wouldn't have been this good and/or polished), but to my ears this is wonderful stuff. Highly recommended.

Fabulous!.......2001-12-21

This is a fabulous example of medieval a capella singing. It was used in a literature class of mine, and I liked it so much that I decided to purchase it. I haven't been disappointed. The voci bianche of these singers almost brought me to tears. Definately worth buying!

Creating harmonies with the beat of your heart.......2000-03-22

The poetry is beautiful in itself. To put it to music makes the beauty come alive.

They just don't write songs like this anymore!.......1999-11-07

Guillaume de Machaut was a very interesting figure. He was born around 1300 and lived to be quite old, especially considering that life expectancies were much shorter then than now. And even though there were no sound recordings at the time, there was written music for those who could afford to study music. In his old age Machaut was saught out by a groopie of sorts. A young woman came to admire him when she learned some of his music. The two met in person and actually had a relationship for a while.

Enough gossip, though. Guillaume de Machaut wrote some of the finest medieval music I've ever heard. Indeed, he wrote some of the finest music I've ever heard, period.

This album is so beautiful; it takes you to a place that one might mistake for heaven. You will think that you are listening to angels singing in French when you hear it. The entire album is _a capella_; that is to say that the only instruments you will hear are human voices. Some of the tracks such as "Foy Porter," and "Tuit Mi Penser" are monophonic; that is to say that only one voice is present, sometimes male, sometimes female. These monophonic songs are extrememly pretty; they have very pleasing and interesting melodies and rhythms -- just as sophisticated as anything one might hear in later periods, but different in style both compositionally and in terms of performance. The singing on this album is world-class. The singing style and technique is very interesting and pleasing to the ear. The range of pitches is pretty wide, yet even the higher registers are smooth and natural, not overwhelming or grating like some opera sopranos can be at times.

The best material on the album, though, is polyphonic; that is music with several voices which create harmonies and counterpoint. There are four- and five-part harmonies that are out of this world, mixing male and female voices in a manner one might describe as an otherworldly, Francophonic, medieval barber shop quartet/quintet. If the Beach Boys had grown up in 14th-century France, they would have been performing music like this. "Dame, Je Sui Cilz/Fins Cuers Doulz," and "Dame, Mon Cuer En Vous Remaint" are two such songs, and my personal favorite is "Dame, DE Qui Toute Ma Joie Vient." The counterpoint and counterrhythms are as sophisticated and impressive as the harmonies. It's really quite stunning, ethereal, beautiful music. If you like early music, you will love this. If you are not yet familiar with much early music, this album would be a wonderful introduction.

Narcissus Drowning
Average customer rating:
Narcissus Drowning

Manufacturer: Persephone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00006JK8X
Release Date: 2002-01-01