Customer Reviews

Cantigas De Santa Maria (Alfonso X El Sabio)

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This is one of the finest performances I have heard of the Cantigas de Santa Maria. By focusing on the "loores" (every tenth cantiga, Alfonso's personal praises of the Virgin Mary) the disc takes on a very personal tone, and by the end, the listener is inside the mind of Alfonso X. The choices of instruments and when to use them (or not to use them) is extremely judicious, and the playing and singing is very fine. The pronunciation of the Galician is also excellent, and none of the songs are cut in order to shorten the performance time. Though the influence of eastern music on the Cantigas is very controversial, its deliberate use here, in the microtones and rhythmic patterns, is extremely effective and gives the whole disc an atmosphere of authenticity not many have. On top of all that, it is a very "listenable" disc (unless you absolutely can't stand these eastern influences). The juxtaposition of a song in Arabic with "A Santa Maria dadas" is shocking, but again, effective. These kinds of educated guesses are the closest we will get to hearing what the Cantigas have to tell us, and this disc seems to be not far off the mark.

Just for your information, there are two ensembles participating here: The Andalusian Orchestra of Fez, Morocco, directed by Mohammed Broiel, and the Camerata Meditrranea, directed by Joel Cohen. The overall conception is the work of Joel Cohen.

This CD won the 2000 Edison Prize in the Netherlands for best early music release.

Just to add a note to the previous reviewer's comments: the last song--"Por nos virgen madre," a solo by Anne Azema with harp--is the most beautiful song I have ever heard in my life; it brought tears to my eyes with its tender passion. Forget those classical composers with their gigantic orchestras; Anne Azema always seems to work miracles in subtlety and grace with the most minimal accompaniment. This great recording is NOT to be missed.

En efecto, la Cantiga final es hermosa y la interpretación sobresaliente. Pero todo el disco es digno de elogios. Concebido con genio, delicadeza y acierto va más allá de la música para impregnar al oyente que la convivencia entre las grandes religiones monoteístas (judaísmo, islamismo y cristianismo) ha sido posible. Este es el mensaje que poseen las Cantigas como se plasman en esta versión y que gracias a ese enorme esfuerzo, apreciamos que desde el pasado hay un mensaje que resulta tan actual. Altamente recomendable.

This is a fabulous recording. Of the six CDs I have of the Cantigas de Santa Maria this is by far the best. I've always been fairly satisfied with all the other recordings -- after all, they are marvellous works to begin with -- but their interpretation is, to be honest, merely ordinary, compared with what is on this disk.

Musical director Joel Cohen has brought together Moroccan musicians and singers with not just Spanish and Occitanian but Berber and Arab roots, to bring to these songs the Moorish influence they undoubtedly had originally. And what a difference this makes! Suddenly the Cantigas de Santa Maria are alive, dark and smoky and passionate and spiritual.

Alfonso el Sabio (the Wise) was one of the most remarkable kings in European history. He was a scientist, an astronomer and a law-maker. He drew together Christians, Jews, Muslims, mystics of all three religions, troubadours, poets, dancers, men and women at his court. His commissioning of the Cantigas was one of his most inspired creative acts. And this interpretation of them is simply magical. Thank you to the singers and musicians.

If you only ever buy one CD of the Cantigas de Santa Maria, make it this one.

This is the best example of three cultures living together in armony. The toledo -Spain-, of Alfonso X el sabio -the wise- , was the perfect place for this fusion and richnest of music and art. The music take you there, with a great armony and invention, this music for virgin Maria makes the lisener even more interested, yet we could belive is a pagan music and never for the stric catolic religion. then again this music is just perfect.