From Byzantium to Andalusia: Medieval Music and Poetry

Italian Anonymous (Composer), Llibre Vermell de Montserrat Anonymous (Composer), Arabic-Andalusian Traditional (Composer), Italian Traditional (Composer), Jewish Traditional (Composer), Lebanese Traditional (Composer), Sephardic Traditional (Composer), Turkish Traditional (Composer), Ensemble Oni Wytars (Performer), Belinda Sykes (Performer), Jeremy Avis (Performer), Peter Rabanser (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ensemble Oni Wytars, Belinda Sykes, Jeremy Avis, Peter Rabanser
• Composer: Italian Anonymous, Llibre Vermell de Montserrat Anonymous, Arabic-Andalusian Traditional, Italian Traditional, Jewish Traditional, et al.
• Audio CD (March 21, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B000EBEGWS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,590 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #33 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Early Music
  • #99 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Historical Periods

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nonexpert, June 28, 2007

By 

Wyote (Seoul) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: From Byzantium to Andalusia: Medieval Music and Poetry (Audio CD)

I am not anyone to comment on the authenticity of this music. I have no idea how accurately it represents Medieval Mediterranean music. It sounds like it does: it sounds the way I might imagine the music of the period.

Regardless, the one thing I am qualified to evaluate is my pleasure listening to it. My favorite track is the first one, the Arab kyrie. Not quite like anything I've ever heard, but I would certainly go to any church where I could hear it.

This CD has helped to whet my appetite for more such music, and I suspect it would do so for anyone. If you are shopping here, I think you should strongly consider buying this one. I would, however, direct you to two other CDs as well (reminding you that I am by no means a knowledgeable person in this field): Sufi music such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (though there are many other less famous examples, at least as good), and Arab Christian music, especially Marie Keyrouz. If there is a god, that is the music he hears in heaven. But excepting those two sources of superlatively uplifting music, this is among the best CDs I own. At its price, it's too good to miss.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tantalizing, June 19, 2008

By 

Dion Morris (Ozarks, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: From Byzantium to Andalusia: Medieval Music and Poetry (Audio CD)

This is a terrific introduction to pre tempered scale music. Because of that, many listeners will perhaps find it disonant, or discordant. It is and it isn't. This is a very well performed collection of early music with vocals by very gifted singers. The rhythms are engaging and the CD has become a regular play in both my MP3 player and on my computers.

I liked it ...

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Byzantium to Andalusia, a great selection of medieval master pieces, October 12, 2009

By 

Daniel Crespo - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: From Byzantium to Andalusia: Medieval Music and Poetry (Audio CD)

I just loved the selection. I have quite a good collection of medieval and renaissance music, and I think that the Cd's selection is representative and balances well the western and eastern music tendencies.