Customer Reviews

World's Bliss - Medieval Songs of Love and Death

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This CD makes my heart soar. The immense beauty is almost overwhelming. My two small children are as captivated as I am, and I have been singing a few of Fleagle's songs every day!

John Fleagle's album is simply one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. Fleagle combines period performance technique with a folk singer's sensibilities, creating a work that brings the powerful emotions of these poems to life for the modern listener. This is a dark, rich, and spellbinding album. The songs are mainly Fleagle's own musical settings of Middle English and traditional poems, and because he immerses himself so completely in the meaning of the text and in the medieval musical style, his compositions ooze authenticity. He is a skilled multi-instrumentalist, accompanying himself gracefully on a variety of instruments. Every track is spellbinding. "The Hern" has the spooky, haunting beauty of a dream that you can't forget, and the sound of Fleagle's gothic harp is the perfect match for the song's poetic imagery. The poems for all of the songs are printed in the booklet, and the Middle English pieces are accompanied by modern translations, allowing a fuller appreciation of their verbal beauty. You will not regret buying this album.

I was fortunate in meeting John perhaps three years before his death.By chance;I was looking for someone to talk to a class of high school seniors and his name was given to me. He ended up performing for students and teachers several times. It was a glorious,joyous,heartbreaking AND intellectually fascinating experience. John`s gifts were so many and remarkable: the beauty of his voice- his power as an artist. His vast depth of knowledge, of music, language, musicology. He performed medieval music, composed music for medieval poetry, made his own medieval instruments.His generosity and gentleness.Even now,although I hardly knew him outside these performances,the thought of his death is a bitter pang. I only wish more of his remarkable repertoire was recorded.

John Fleagle has absolutely the most beautiful male voice I have ever heard. Tragically he died from cancer last year at a very young age. His spirit was very young and yet seems very, very old from his intimate understanding of these ancient songs. This CD is his masterpiece.

This is a delightful album. Listening to Fleagle (mostly solo and self-accompanied) sing these lovely songs is like gathering in the town square to hear the tales sung by a wandering balladier come to town.

This is, quite possibly, one of the most important albums to revisit period music ever recorded. John Fleagle's sublime, angelic voice captures the spirit and emotion of the age that echoes and still bears meaning to our current times.

John Fleagle was a man out of his time; in his life, he was a visitor from the past to remind us that love and death have unchanged meaning from one age to the next.

If I were stranded on an island with only one choice of album to listen to for the rest of my life, it would be this one.

I found this CD at a music store. I rarely buy things that I've never heard of, but the theme of the CD intrigued me so I bought it, hoping that it would be worth it. My only regret is that I have only had it for a few weeks. Hands down, it's one of the most beautiful and perfect albums I have ever heard.

Someone gave me this for Christmas. From the first song, I knew it would be great from start to finish (no bad tracks on it). If you like medieval, renaissance, or folk music, this is going to be one of your favorite albums. His voice is poignant and lovely, the instrumentals are perfect, and the songs are beautiful. You will be glad you purchased this, and your friends will ask you, "What is this album?!"

I love this CD. John Fleagle's singing and harp accompaniment are marvellous, as is the vielle accompaniment by Shira Kammen, who worked with him for many years. Most of the settings of the medieval texts are by Fleagle, except for the setting of "Alysoun", composed by Kammen. All are lovely. This is a really beautiful CD.

Who was John Fleagle really? He performed here in Boston and those of us familiar with "The Revels" will remember him well. I have never seen a biography of this brilliant and talented musician, who made his own instruments and sang with a nearly devine tenor voice. And then he was gone. He left this treasure among others and I recommend you buy it while you can.