Customer Reviews

Cantigas de Amigo (Songs for a Friend)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This exquisite recording is one of the best examples of Medieval music I've heard in years.

The group, Ensemble Alcatraz, made a great splash about six or eight years ago on the Nonesuch label, but disappeared from view for quite some time. It's great that a premium label like Dorian has brought them back, since they're more inspired than ever - and the recording quality is superb.

Even better, the women's vocal ensemble KITKA lends a haunting sense of ethereal beauty - it's a real showcase of how women's spirituality can come alive with through an inspired performance of medieval music.

Anybody who loves Anonymous 4 will love this recording - but in this case, the addition of a wide range of instruments (harp, percussion, vielle,etc.), virtuosically played adds wonderful colour and a sense of exotic exitement to the experience. Highly recommended! How can music this old sound so alive, so moving, so exquisitely beautiful and contemporary?!

The music on this CD is beautiful, ethereal, gorgeous. Recorders, string instruments, women's voices, and percussion all weave together with haunting melodies and rhythm.

Strangely enough, I had a hard time buying this CD. First I tried to buy it new through Amazon. After delaying my order for several months, they finally cancelled my order because they could not get the CD (I don't blame Amazon for this - they sent me e-mails every now and then asking if I was still willing to wait). I then managed to buy it used from a dealer through Amazon. It was worth the wait!

Simply put, this album is one of the three or four best albums released in the last twenty years. If you don't believe me, buy it. Then you will believe me. If not, you must have something seriously wrong with your hearing, soul, or basic humanity (but that's just my opinion).