Magister Leoninus: Sacred Music from 12th-century Paris, Vol. 2 [Import]

Red Byrd Ensemble (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 11, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B00005RT4G
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,305 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lost Music Reborn, May 17, 2005

By 

J. Burton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magister Leoninus: Sacred Music from 12th-century Paris, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

The ensemble Red Byrd presents sacred music from 12th century Paris by Magister Leoninus (fl 1163-1190).

"'Lost music re-born' said BBC Music Magazine of 'Magister Leoninus 1' issued in 1997. That disc won a Diapason d'Or d'Année and appeared among the BBC's 'Best of the Year' discs. Here, therefore, is a second CD of austere and beautiful music by this mysterious master from the 12th-century School of Notre Dame, of whose name we are not even sure. Red Byrd's new recording includes compositions for three of the most important feasts in the liturgical year: Christmas, Easter and Pentecost." (Hyperion-records.co.uk)

The works on this recording:

Christmas
1. Iudea et Iherusalem
2. Descendit de celis

Easter
3. Et valde mane
4. Christus resurgens
5. Sedit angelus

Pentecost
6. Dum conplerentur
7. Advenit ignis
8. Repleti sunt omnes
9. Benedicamus Domino

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, June 4, 2009

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Magister Leoninus: Sacred Music from 12th-century Paris, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

ASCETIC, AUSTERE AND AWESOME SACRED I2TH-CENTURY MUSIC FROM PARIS. (VOLUME TWO)
This is the second CD of austere and beautiful music attributed to this mysterious master, Magister Leoninus. Red Byrd's new recording includes compositons for Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. Complimenting the music of their first disc, this duo sings Office responsories for the major feasts, and at Matins and also for processions.

Leoninus, we are told, wrote a cycle of two-part settings of the most important chants in the liturgical year - Christmas, Easter, Assumption and other feasts; this cycle was called 'Magnus liber organi'(the Great Book of 'organum'). .

Performing the 'duplum' line in 'organum' is a skill that is difficult to regain at the end of the twentieth century. The notated music involves much creativity, and I tend to think guesswork, on the part of the performer. In addition, the sustained notes included in many of these compositions are a challenge to breath control and the sanity of the singer taking part. Fortunately, for our purpose, Red Byrd gives a really enlightened and vocally sound rendition of this music. The recording ends with 'Benedicamus Domino', which always concluded the hours of office. The chant parts are sung by a schola of six men.

Red Byrd believes that "the point of singing the music of the past is to illuminate the present", ( to which I heartily agree). Its constant members are John Potter and Richard Weistreich, who are joined by other singers and instrumentalists with a strong grounding in early music to explore old and new. To my thinking it is almost a 'must' that one has both Volumes One and Two of this set in order to fully appreciate this music.

So go into the most stark and somewhat 'spooky' room that you can find (it might help to have some religious symbols, such as a crucifix ) and light a candle (no electricity please) and simply absorb and enjoy a moment from the past!

JEROME WEBER, MUSIC CRITIC: "These two discs (Volumes one and two) are the finest of the few recordings devoted to music of this period..."

The package comes with pertinent information in English and the text in Latin translated to English.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly beautiful - unequaled and unrivaled, January 7, 2009

By 

Ken Cybulska "Ken Cybulska" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magister Leoninus: Sacred Music from 12th-century Paris, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

The most Gothic of Gothic Chant, this and its sister album by Red Byrd are the most deep and serious rendering of Leonin I've been able to find, and I'm completely in love with them both.

Though I readily admit this kind of music is not for everyone, if you enjoy your gothic chant straight up, you're going to find it here in spades.

Incredibly beautiful.

Rated Five Stars.

Ken Cybulska