Search - Sospiri :: A Medieval Christmas

Only the smallest amount of medieval music survives: musicians and composers were largely anonymous and their work often went unrecorded. But thankfully a handful of manuscripts have come down to us, filled with rich and varied music for instruments and voices on touching themes which tell the stories of the boy Christ and his mother, Mary. This album brings many of these works together, from the famous Coventry Carol and There is no rose to some of the less well-known works such as Synge we to this mery cumpane and Hayl, Mary, ful of grace . In addition we have added new arrangements by William Lyons of some very famous medieval Christmas tunes. He and his colleague Nicholas Perry play several different sets of medieval bagpipes. Perry s hurdy-gurdy adds a real zing, and Lyons recorder and shawm bring yet another musical timbre to the cheerful medleys of sound. And we do have two named composers. Lionel Power (c1375-1445) was connected during a major part of his career with the cathedral in Canterbury. He may have travelled in English territories in Northern France as well as possibly being a member of the English Chapel Royal. The rounded, mellifluous sound of his Sanctus (track 13) is typical of English music of the period, and it was with this special quality that Power and his fellow countrymen inspired a new generation of European composers. This substantial work forms the still centre of the recording with the text Holy, holy, holy Lord . Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a visionary in many fields who was placed in a religious community at the age of eight. Her spirituality grew with her and she became a leading member of her order. Her music, intended in the main for women s voices, is quite remarkable for its fluidity and flexibility: its starting point is the medieval plainsong style of works such as Puer natus est , ( A boy is born - track 12), but it develops a wider melodic range and an even greater intensity of expression. About the Artist Sospiri is a small, mixed-voice choir founded by John Duggan and Christopher Watson to celebrate a shared love of plainsong and polyphony. The choir sing regularly in service and in concert and have recorded several CDs which are a mix of sacred and secular music. Sospiri directed by Christopher Watson. Claire Eadington, Sophie Biddell, Miranda Laurence, John Stainsby, John Duggan, Christopher Watson, Will Daweswith William Lyons & Nicholas Perry, pipes, hurdy-gurdy, recorder and shawm.