Montsegur: La Tragedie Cathare (La Nef)

La Nef (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dorian Recordings
• ASIN: B000001QBL
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,181 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music to Dream To, July 11, 2000

By 

Amanda HALE - See all my reviews

This review is from: Montsegur: La Tragedie Cathare (La Nef) (Audio CD)

I was curious to hear what the marvellous Medieval ensemble 'La Nef' made of Cathar music, remembering that there exists absolutely no record of Cathar music and we have no idea if they actually LISTENED to any. La Nef have been as clever as they have imaginative; aknowleding the fact that we know nothing about Cathar taste in music, they reasoned that the Cathar dislike of the Orthodox Church would push their musical tendancies strictly into the realms of the secular, La Nef have taken well-known Medieval folk-melodies from the South of France and attempted (successfully) to imbue them with a 'dualistic' theme, echoing the tenets of Catharism. The 'Good and Evil' concept at the heart of Catharism becomes, musically, a contrast between heavy percussion and harps so light they could be carried on an angel's wings, the haunting, almost Arabic melodies of some of the tracks a very strange mixture of East and West. This CD truly is a 'tour de force' in imagination and wit, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to both Medieval music afficianados as well as people who just want music to DREAM to!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUBLIME, April 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Montsegur: La Tragedie Cathare (La Nef) (Audio CD)

Ever since I first heard La Nef (a Canadian early music ensemble) (and swept up all three of their recordings) I have been wondering how I could share this experience with others. I first stumbled across "The Garden of Earthly Delights," and from the first moments after putting it on, I knew that here was a group of people that did not just recreate early music, but breathed life into it and presented it with dimension, depth and sensitivity. I am utterly haunted by the harmonies and vocal interpretations on these discs. I consider the track "Reis Glorios" from "Montsegur" as simply one of the most moving songs that I have ever heard. Each of these discs simply sparkles; carrying for me a mixture of underlying sadness, joy and the mysterious. These are expert tapestries that delight and provoke.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! a religious experience, July 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Montsegur: La Tragedie Cathare (La Nef) (Audio CD)

We saw La Nef perform this concert live, and were blown away. The group may well take liberties with the 'authentic' performances, but lustily capture the colour, spirit and pathos of the Cathar story, about which I have read several accounts.The CD even prompted a trip to Montsegur