Lo Gai Saber / Troubadour Music

Mediterranea Camerata (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 7, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000005E7Q
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #322,913 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I. Del Gran Golfe De Mar: Ondas do mar; Altas undas que venez suz la mar... - Fulton/Cohen/Azema

2. I. Del Gran Golfe De Mar: Del gran golfe de mar - Francois Harismendy

3. II. Proensa: Pos tornats sui en Proenza - Francois Harismendy

4. II. Proensa: Ab l'alen tir vas me l'aire - Jean-Luc Madier

5. III. Ab Joi Et Ab Joven: Er, quan renovella e gensa - Camerata Mediterranea

6. III. Ab Joi Et Ab Joven: Bel m'es, quan vei chanjar lo senhoratge - Francois Harismendy

7. III. Ab Joi Et Ab Joven: Ab joi et ab joven - Anne Azema

8. IV. Novel Amor: Interlude; Danca dels dos domnas - Cheryl Ann Fulton/Shira Kammen

9. IV. Novel Amor: Sirvens sui avutz et arlotz - Francois Harismendy

10. IV. Novel Amor: Dona, tant vos ai preiada - Anne Azema/Jean-Luc Madier

11. IV. Novel Amor: Domna, pos vos ai chausida - Jean-Luc Madier

12. IV. Novel Amor: Ab la dolchor del temps novel - Francois Harismendy

13. IV. Novel Amor: nouvele amor qui si m'agree - Camerata Mediterranea

14. V. Ben Es Dreihz Qu'eu Planha: Lancan vei la folha - Anne Azema

15. V. Ben Es Dreihz Qu'eu Planha: Dirai vos senes duptansa - Jean-Luc Madier

16. V. Ben Es Dreihz Qu'eu Planha: Ar mi puesc ieu lauzar d'amor - Joel Cohen

17. VI. Ar Em Al Freg Temps Vengut: Interlude : Lo freg temps. ar em al freg temps vengut - Fulton/Kammen/Madier

18. VI. Ar Em Al Freg Temps Vengut: Be'm degra de chantar tener - Anne Azema

19. VI. Ar Em Al Freg Temps Vengut: Un sirventes novel vueill comensar - Francois Harismendy/Camerata Mediterranea

20. VI. Ar Em Al Freg Temps Vengut: Judicii Signum (Chant de la Sibylle) - Jean-Luc Madier

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, entertaining, and wonderful, September 27, 2005

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Lo Gai Saber / Troubadour Music (Audio CD)

This is another stellar production by Erato, of the Camerata Mediterranea, under the direction of Joel Cohen. In my collection, I treat this disc as a companion piece to the collection 'The Sacred Bridge' by the Boston Camerata, which has sacred music from the Jewish and Christian traditions in the Middle Ages. This disc concentrates on secular music of the age of the minstrels and troubadours. Much is anonymous, both in lyric writing and musical composition. Indeed, according to Cohen, 'virtually all the minstrels' instrumental music of the troubadour period has been lost, and was perhaps never written down.' Musicians and musicologists have to rely on the folk tunes and later compositions known to incorporate themes to reconstruct as best they can the music from this period.

The performances of troubadours was sometimes a capella, but more often accompanied by plucked string sounds such as harp and viola. Cohen argues that the wind and percussion instruments of many recordings are less likely to be authentic. These are story/text driven songs.

One of the interesting aspects of authentic troubadour music is that performers were recruited not on the basis of music merit, but rather on connection with Occitan/Provencal as a primary consideration. For this recording, Anne Azema, Francois Harismendy, and Jean-Luc Madier have living Occitan connections. Joel Cohen, Cheryl Ann Fulton and Shira Kammen round out the players.

The songs (chansons) are divided into six main story lines, with improvised musical interludes. Troubadours told stories with their songs, and this disc is no different.

The performances are wonderful, lively, fun and full of energy. One can imagine being in a medieval chamber being entertained.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Priceless, December 4, 2006

By 

trimmed drool (gods country) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lo Gai Saber / Troubadour Music (Audio CD)

This recording first turned me on to early european music when it was released. If you are at all interested in this type of music or even just curious it is money well spent.