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Music : The Mirror of Narcissus - Secular Songs by Guillaume de MachautIn association with Amazon.comfrom: Hyperion UK  
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Binding: Audio CDEAN: 0034571160870 Format: Import Label: Hyperion UK Manufacturer: Hyperion UK Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Hyperion UK Release Date: November 11, 1993 Studio: Hyperion UK Sales Rank: 72214 Disc 1:
Editorial Review: Amazon.com: The second Gothic Voices recording was something of a milestone: the first recording of 14-century music performed by voices alone. The absence of instruments permits very precise tuning (no small matter in this repertory) and doesn't obscure Machaut's poetry (which was admired by no less than Geoffrey Chaucer). Belying its scholarly-but-dull reputation, Gothic Voices sings with plenty of energy and rhythmic snap; the monophonic songs, performed by a single unaccompanied voice, come off particularly well. The best example of this disc's achievement is the famous "Douce dame jolie," which has been done as everything from a catchy little ditty to a fife-and-drum march: Margaret Philpot performs it as what it is--the forlorn plea of a spurned lover. --Matthew Westphal Average Rating:
 Rating: - Unmatched MachautI'd forgotten this disk in a corner of my collection until I heard an concert by another group, Liber UnUsualis. I reviewed their CD "Unrequited" quite enthusiastically, but then I searched for "The Mirror of Narcissus" and listened to the two head-to-head. Results: both good, but "The Mirror" is more intense, more passionate, and more artful in articulating the hockets and other effects of Ars Nova heterophony. If Gothic Voices ever had a reputation of being "academic but dull", that was a bad rap. ... Read More Rating: - Great musicianship and purity of toneThis is one of my favorite early music CDs and perhaps my favorite Machaut CD. Wonderful material, intelligently presented, sung by gorgeous voices with perfect pitch control. Groups like Gothic Voices are sometimes criticized for being too perfect (i.e., real medieval musicians wouldn't have been this good and/or polished), but to my ears this is wonderful stuff. Highly recommended. Rating: - Fabulous!This is a fabulous example of medieval a capella singing. It was used in a literature class of mine, and I liked it so much that I decided to purchase it. I haven't been disappointed. The voci bianche of these singers almost brought me to tears. Definately worth buying! Rating: - Creating harmonies with the beat of your heartThe poetry is beautiful in itself. To put it to music makes the beauty come alive. Rating: - They just don't write songs like this anymore!Guillaume de Machaut was a very interesting figure. He was born around 1300 and lived to be quite old, especially considering that life expectancies were much shorter then than now. And even though there were no sound recordings at the time, there was written music for those who could afford to study music. In his old age Machaut was saught out by a groopie of sorts. A young woman came to admire him when she learned some of his music. The two met in person and actually had a relationship for ... Read More Browse for similar items by category:
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