"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."
Essential Collection for the Medievalist
D. B. Hebbard | Chicago, IL United States | 02/27/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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 never grow tired of this collection
Karen G | Talking Rock, GA USA | 08/06/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
"unica" por Thomas Binkley
Martn Alberto Baigorria Castillo | Lima Peru | 07/09/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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)."