Customer Reviews

The Second Circle - Love Songs of Francesco Landini

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There is no doubt that Anonymous 4 is a highly skilled ensemble. The combination of exceptionally beautiful voices with technical perfection has attracted attention for them from all over the world. As Francesco Landini is my favorite composer of all time, I was quick to purchase this album. However, as with all Anonymous 4 albums, I was totally dumbfounded by the fact that every one of the tracks sounded just like all the others. They sound very pretty, very sweet, totally perfect - but unfortunately, also very boring.

Now we're not talking here about Gregorian chant. This is meant to all sound alike, as its purpose is not to entertain, but to raise the consciousness of the listener. We're not talking about French motets, either - which need to be interspersed with troubadour and trouvère music or other genres of song if they aren't going to eventually sound all the same. This is Landini - a powerful and intense composer whose compositions range in mood from fierce anger to passionate and painful obsession to black despair to sheer joy. But I found more of Landini's power in Gothic Voices' rendition of one song, Nessun ponga sperança, than I heard in this entire album.

It is only Landini's genius that keeps this album from sounding totally insipid. I'm sorry, maybe I am too Hollywood, but I prefer the sounds of groups like Micrologus, Alla Francesca and La Reverdie. Their voices may not be quite so gorgeous, their vocal skills not quite so technically perfect. But they come from a deep intuitive sense of what Landini was trying to express through the song, and, frankly, are fine performers as well as singers.

As a director of a vocal ensemble that is trying to master Landini, I'll listen to this album again and again to get ideas for songs to use in future concerts. But Anonymous 4 need never worry that we'll try to imitate their performance technique. I recommend this album for diehard Anonymous 4 fans, Landini enthusiasts and beginning-to-intermediate students of early music.

Anonymous 4 has perfect intonation,perfect phrasing, but all this perfection saps the life out of some of this 14th century music. Of course, we will never know what Landini had in mind, but most other early music groups approach this music with a bit more earthiness. I have never been bored with "Ecco la primavera", but was here. Too perfect, lacking, well- spring. Unfortunately, there are few recordings of Landini available, and this one includes many previously unrecorded songs, so an early music aficionado may have to obtain this CD for this purpose.

True to thier artistry the A4 conveys Landini as a courtly master; subtle and flowing. Thier singing radiates with the freshness of May.

Landini can be likened to Duccio as Palistrina to Giotto. Duccio is not a painter of angles or the other-worldy but humans on earth. Yet they are not humanized in the Renaissance sense for they lack rotunda and gravity. Rather, they are delicate and "float" and retain something of the soaring intensity and expressive flavor of Medieval art. Yet they are very human and with Duccio as with Landini one can perceive the dawn of the Renaissance.

Like a sunset to sunrise the CD ends with the piece it began (Echo la primavera) singing it with more expansion and reflection. Not bad since the piece is so short. Perhaps the A4 wants to convey an end of a journey or "My end is my begining."

While I'm more used to this music with instruments, at least
portative organ this being Landini, Anonymous 4's is what used to be called a valid perfomance. The snatches of documentation for performance practice we have of this period certainly don't rule out an all vocal approach. I've been a musician long enough to know that given the material and the ability of the musicians they will try everything and I'm sure all vocal renditions were done if an instrument wasn't available. Landini was a part of a rather refined group and his music is very subtle. You can't perform his music as if it was a contra dance without distorting it.
While I'm disappointed, and frankly amazed, that anyone could use this a background music for reviewing a paper it isn't the fault of either the listener who can do what he likes or of the preformers who do a good job.
The performance is very good their intonation is some of the best.

This is my favorite of all the cds I own! I love this cd as background music whether I'm editing a dissertation, reading the news or cleaning the house! I bought On Yoolis Night as the first of my Anonymous 4 collection, and found it too upbeat and the notes too high to relax me. This cd is absolutely fabulous! I bought it as gifts for several of my closest friends. I would recommend this to anyone who needs peace!

Absolutely gorgeous a capella quartet. Stunning and soothing music. Highly recommended.

True to thier artistry the A4 conveys Landini as a courtly master; subtle and flowing. Thier singing radiates with the freshness of May.

Landini can be likened to Duccio as Palistrina to Giotto. Duccio is not a painter of angles or the other-worldy but humans on earth. Yet they are not humanized in the Renaissance sense for they lack rotunda and gravity. Rather, they are delicate and "float" and retain something of the soaring intensity and expressive flavor of Medieval art. Yet they are very human and with Duccio as with Landini one can perceive the dawn of the Renaissance.

Like a sunset to sunrise the CD ends with the piece it began (Echo la primavera) singing it with more expansion and reflection. Not bad since the piece is so short. Perhaps the A4 wants to convey an end of a journey or "My end is my begining."

True to thier artistry the A4 conveys Landini as a courtly master; subtle and flowing. Thier singing radiates with the freshness of May.

Landini can be likened to Duccio as Palistrina to Giotto. Duccio is not a painter of angles or the other-worldy but humans on earth. Yet they are not humanized in the Renaissance sense for they lack rotunda and gravity. Rather, they are delicate and "float" and retain something of the soaring intensity and expressive flavor of Medieval art. Yet they are very human and with Duccio as with Landini one can perceive the dawn of the Renaissance.

Like a sunset to sunrise the CD ends with the piece it began (Echo la primavera) singing it with more expansion and reflection. Not bad since the piece is so short. Perhaps the A4 wants to convey an end of a journey or "My end is my begining."

This album is so beautiful ! like a sureal dream. but, i guess those lovley ladys will never know how sad it is that they dont combine period instruments with their repertoires : lute,medieval flute and harp will definitely (in top good tast and sound) could have made this experience more than perfect(!).
i find it very difficult to listen to this album from the beginnig to the end without feeling exhausted mentaly.
although, this unique ensamble of voices is the most delighting group in early music i've ever heard .
i dont understand those who say that their interpetation of landini is boring ...
try go walking in a forest (in day-light of course...) get stoned and listen to it while you walk... tell me now that it is not an absoloutly soureal/inlighting experience.