Customer Reviews

Troubadours, Trouvères, Minstrels

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

 

 

I won't try to add more praise to the deserving and already lauded recording in question.

Binkley fans may want to go to amazon.co.uk for recordings not found on the US site such as Binkley's Peasant, Dance and Street Songs in Germany in the (early) 16th Century - in my view one of his finest.

This music is from the 12th and 13th century (to correct the previous reviewer). Studio der Fruhen Musik was one of the pioneering early music groups -- led by the American Thomas Binkley. This collection brings together three releases from the early 60's and shows the ensemble in their early days. It is a shame that the label --in this case Telefunken -- doesn't release their entire output (say in a box set, for instance). EMI Reflexe, where this group next recorded, also has failed to rerelease their archives, as well. Highly recommended, if only for their historic value.

I actually don't have the CD. It is about time I buy it. I do have a 15-year-old set of 4 cheap cassettes of this very same collection. Despite their quality, they have been a prize in my medieval music collection. Amazon does not say, but you should know that the majority of the music here is from the 13th through the 15th centuries. Some of the music may borderline renaissance, but it is truly a medieval collection. Since it is music of the troubadours and minstrels you will be hearing male voices, some singing quit high creating an eerie and haunting feel to their songs. You should also note all the German songs included. I thought it was unusual and nice. As far as their performance goes, I thought it sounded "real". I mean "real" as opposed to a modern group singing old songs. They sounded like they were really troubadours and minstrels. Their music transports you back in time like reading early British literature.

For those who are interested in medieval music, I highly recommend this collection.

Sonidos orientales, inspirados en la música arabo-andalusí, como clave para interpretar las monodias del Occidente europeo. No me parece lo mejor del trabajo de Binkley al frente de su Studio der frühen Musik, pero estos discos son los únicos actualmente disponibles. Las nuevas generaciones de aficionados deben, sin embargo, conocerlos, sobre todo el segmento final (CD No. 2), una bella antología de los Minnesänger, grabada hacia 1966, que sola vale oro. Hace falta reeditar de urgencia los mejores discos de Thomas Binkley en Teldec (Carmina Burana, etc.) y en EMI Reflexe (hoy insuficientemente distribuidos, solo en Alemania y en volúmenes de 6 CD cada uno).

The Studio der Frühen Musik's recording of troubadour songs included on these CDs was my introduction to their approach to medieval music, many years ago, and I have collected every recording of theirs that has appeared since. They are classics that have not been bested and they sound as fresh and "up-to-date" as they did when they appeared. They are definitely more adventurous and imaginative than most of the stodgy recordings of this repertoire that appear now. Thomas Binkley, Andrea von Ramm (there is no voice as versatile as hers), Richard Levitt (a "mellow" countertenor if ever there was one) and Sterling Jones make this music come alive with a passion and skill that has not been matched, except perhaps by Mala Punica, Ensemble P.A.N. and Ensemble Musica Nova for music of the later Middle Ages. The best place to find more Binkley CDs (quite a few of them actually) is the German amazon. Don't worry about not understanding German ... the buttons are the same!

Sorry, while I love medieval and renaissance music, I don't enjoy countertenor voice (except for Farinelli!). This CD is all countertenor.