The Black Madonna
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Free Music Notes for The Black Madonna
Free Music Review: bigotry
Hit: 5 Stars
this moran person should actuallt call herself moronhow can so much bigotry tied up with (as usual) ignorance and deep misunderstanding be packed up in so small an instance as in an online review of a record.
i just cound't avoid sounding my disgust over such ill minded comments as the one by above mentioned.
Free Music Review: yet another nail in the coffin of their competitors...
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm not just some ignorant and rabid fan: I've surveyed hundreds of early music CDs in my time, and have performed a great deal of medieval music. I can assure you that Unicorn -- also known as Oni Wytars and Accentus -- is the best instrumental ensemble performing this repertory. Hands down. They rarely appear on critics' golden lists, but that's because most early music critics (and performers) are desiccated scholars and not impassioned musicians. The only reason this CD isn't perfect (unlike "Codex Faenza", which is flawless in every respect) is that the arrangements are less than historical. In medieval monophonic music, rule no. 1 about song accompaniment is that the instrumentalist must NEVER draw attention away from the voice -- go crazy with preludes and interludes, but be VERY discreet during actual singing. Since Unicorn is concerned primarily with the emotive and evocative capabilities of its instruments, it tends toward the densely orchestrated (but not to the absurd extremes of, for instance, Philip Pickett). Such an approach is not historically justified in most cases, but I'd be a desiccated scholar if I didn't reassure y'all that this CD is one hell of a fun ride.Free Music Review: A great group and label to boot!
Hit: 5 Stars
Aside from the beauty and uniqueness of the material chosen for this recording, the Ensemble Unicorn has amazed me on other recordings as well with their talent and flavor for re-creating early music. The fact that these recordings, "Naxos Early Music", are offered at such low prices should never sway anyone to think less of it. These recordings are among the absolute best in my collection.Free Music Review: Enthusiastic and vigorous performances
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of the better early music performances I have heard on disc.The material is pilgrim songs and trouvere material from a manuscript in Catalonia. The performers adapt this music freely, adding instrumental parts; and attack these simple songs in stanza forms with freedom and glee.
Belinda Sykes' voice, in particular, carries this record off. What comes off this disc, mostly, is -enthusiasm-; I haven't heard an early music record that was this much fun to listen to since the Binkley -Carmina Burana-.
Free Music Review: Incredible
Hit: 5 Stars
I picked this up because I am interested in the Black Madonnas of Southern Europe and Medieval history in general. I also like "early music." This CD was an incredible surprise. The quality of the singing and musicianship is amazing. The Islamic influences in early European music are really brought out here. I can't recommend this more highly although it is probably not for the casual listener. But if you are curious, you can't beat the price!