Medieval Chants & Improvisations

On this CD:

1. Terribilis Est
Composed by Cistercian Anonymous

2. Kyrietropus
Composed by Anonymous

3. Gloria
Composed by Anonymous

4. Locus Iste, gradual
Composed by Anonymous

5. Alleluia. adorabo ad templum, alleluia in the 7th mode
Composed by Gregorian Chant

6. Domine Deus in Simplicitate
Composed by Cistercian Anonymous

7. Domus mea, antiphon
Composed by Gregorian Chant

8. Urbs Ierusalem Beata, hymn
Composed by Traditional

9. Huic Jacobo
Composed by Codex Calixtinus Anonymous

10. Ave Maria
Composed by Anonymous

11. Ave Maris Stella
Composed by Anonymous

12. Ave Stella Matutina
Composed by Anonymous

13. Virgini Mariae laudes
Composed by Anonymous

14. Salve Regina, antiphon in mode 1
Composed by Gregorian Chant

Tracks:

11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Antiphon - Auctori vite psalmis - Invitatory - Venite exsultemus domino
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Symphonia virginum - O dulcissime amator
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Hymn - Jesu corona virginum
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Responsory - Spiritui sancto
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Versicle - Specie tua
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Responsory -Favus distillans
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Benedicamus domino
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Antiphon - Studium divinitatis
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Psalm 92 - Dominus regnavit - Studium divinitatis
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Sequence - O Ecclesia
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Benedicamus domino
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Chapter - Domine deus meus
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Brief responsory - Mirabilis deus
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Hymn - Cum vox sanguinis
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Antiphon - O rubor sanguinis
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Canticle - Magnificat anima mea - O rubor sanguinis
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Hymn - Te lucis ante terminum
11,000 Virgins - Chants For The Feast Of St. Ursula: Benidicamus domino

Amazon.com essential recording

All the world loves Hildegard--and the four women of Anonymous 4 may be the best interpreters of her music since the 12th century. St. Ursula was the legendary daughter of a British king who, with her army of virgin companions, was martyred in Cologne, perhaps in the fifth century; Hildegard wrote these Chants for the Feast of St. Ursula for use in a highly solemn celebration along with other liturgical chants. It is in this context that Anonymous 4 presents this program, interspersing chants and psalmody with Hildegard's compositions, sometimes employing drones and polyphonic embellishment. The musical effect is a mixture of awesome reverence and earthly sensuousness. The combination of four different women's voices in perfect unison creates a richly colored sound that can lull or console or uplift. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Great Medieval Plainsong. Not all from Hildegard.......2005-11-04

'11,000 Virgins - Chants for the Feast of St. Ursula' performed by the vocal quartet, Anonymous 4' is 72 minutes of music at least as good as any of their other albums. But, over half of the pieces on this record are by medieval composers OTHER than Fraulein Hildegard. So, the emphasis of the album is much more on 'Chants for the Feast of St. Ursula' than on Hildegard.

This does not disappoint, as the performances are superb, regardless of the composer. My only regret is that the notes did not tell more of the story of the 11,000 virgins. When I was visiting the Rhineland, this was a big local story, even though it happened over a 1,000 years ago, even before Hildegard's time.

But that's minor grousing. This is great music. Buy it if you like Medieval liturgical music!

Approaching perfection..........2005-10-13

The music on this CD comes from the great Hildegard of Bingen, one of the towering female figures from the Middle Ages. Hildegard is not only one of the few women whose name has come down to us from the Middle Ages, but one of the few composers of any sort whose name survives together with his or her compositions. Hildegard was a sort of Renaissance woman before the Renaissance, whose fame spread in her lifetime such that she was advisor of monarchs and popes, as well as a significant creative and mystical figure.

Between 1150 and 1160, she composed and collected poetry and musical works under the title 'Symphony of the Harmony of Celestial Revelations'. Much of her music was monophonic in nature, and tied to the liturgy. The Anonymous 4 in their performance sometimes add polyphonic embellishments and vocal drones to chants and psalmody.

Hildegard's abbey possessed relics of St. Ursula, and Hildegard wrote many pieces in honour of the saint to be performed by the women of her abbey. This particular recording of women's voices doing these pieces is therefore quite natural and back to the original intent of Hildegard's compositions.

Hildegard's style is unique, as are the vocal talents of the Anonymous 4 - the combination here is something that approaches perfection.

-- Liner Notes --
This text accompaniment to this disc is very full, so much so that the booklet is not contained within the jewel case, but rather within a slipcover in which both the CD/jewel case and the booklet reside. The liner notes include a description of the work, a brief piece about the quartet, and the lyrics of the songs both in original language and in translation - all repeated in English, German, and French sections.

-- Anonymous 4 --
Contrary to the implication of their name, the Anonymous 4 are not anonymous. This is a vocal quartet made up of Ruth Cunningham, Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer, and Johanna Rose at the time of this recording (Ruth Cunningham will later go on to a solo career early, and another member will join - Jacqueline Horner). They came together as a formal group in 1986, and have been ensemble-in-residence at St. Michael's Church in New York City, giving concert series in New York as well as throughout North America. They have been featured a number of times on national media in North America as well as Germany. They then went on to yet more success, eventually performing more that 1000 concerts worldwide.

Their specialty is working with chant, monophonic and polyphonic music, and working with medieval texts. According to one source, 'The group takes its name from an anonymous music theorist of the late 13th century, Anonymous IV, who is the principal source on the two famous composers of the Notre Dame school, Léonin and Pérotin.'

The group ended a touring career of nearly two decades in 2004.

beautiful, meditative music.......2001-10-28

This is beautiful music. The four women's voices are so soothing. This is an ideal CD to listen to if for relaxation, meditation, or prayer. I listen to it while I practice yoga. The music is also very important historically, as Hildegard von Bingen is one of the few women composers in the history of Western music. Many of these insipiring tracks were written by her.

Glorious Music.......2000-11-30

Another superb CD by "Annonymous 4", these women are some of the best at creating music for the soul. Quite meditative in nature it is truly amazing that this music was written so long ago and continues to inspire. The accompanying booklet gives you plenty of background information on Hildegard von Bingen and why these songs were written. The included artwork is an additional bonus if you're inclined to like the works of Hildegard von Bingen. The music is just sheer beauty, angelic voices in a world of chaos. The music is relaxing and perfect for creative and contemplative moods. The perfect reading music or for that matter anytime the pace needs to be slowed down . It is best listened to to free one's mind of all earthly concerns and to focus on more spiritual matters. An excellent choice for those moments of connecting to the meaning and purpose of our existences.

There's something about this one........2000-03-31

Meditative, haunting, stirring- an archetypical mastery of the female voice in Christian chant. 73 minutes.

Average customer rating:

Stunning & atmospheric
EBQ Takes the Listener to the Next Passage
Absolutely perfect.

Passage 138 B.C.-A.D. 1611

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

King's Court and Celtic Fair
The Antiphonal Music of Gabrieli
Hildegard von Bingen: Canticles of Ecstasy

ASIN: B000003CZU
Release Date: 1994-11-08

Tracks:

Haec Dies
Spiritual Dance
Minimal
Sibley Sanctus Lydian
De Profundis
Hopper Dance
Instrumental
Si Dolce
Factus Est Repente
Sun Credo
Scandinavian Chant
First Delphic Hymn
Dilectus Meus
Peccaniem Me Quotidie
Lydian
The Melancholy Of Departure

Customer Reviews:

Stunning & atmospheric.......2003-11-23

Many casual listeners of classical music (like myself) are often drawn to particular albums within this genre because of the timeless atmosphere and mood that we hope any particular release will encompass. Something that sounds like it could have come from hundreds of years ago, dripping in history and long forgotten places and people, and yet still saying something to todays listener.
I am not even a fan in general of brass quintets, quartets, ect, so if it weren't for a friend at work having purchased this CD, and my own being a major fan of the under-recorded guitarist Peter Maunu (who guests here), I would have never picked up this disc.
I've been buying just about anything Peter Maunu plays on after buying, and loving, his single 1990 solo album as well as his many appearences with Mark Isham (often on soundtracks), so I borrowed this disc to listen to at work from my friend. Then I borrowed it again, then again. Sure, I could have easily burned a CD copy myself from his, but these guys aren't selling CD's like they were Brittany Spears and I thought buying my own copy is kind of like a vote for these guys saying "yeah, this is a classic work". Besides, I even like the cover and the liner info (I just NEED to know who plays what on each track, who the guest musicians are, ect).
So you have this excellently recorded disc with the brass quintet with ever so subtle additions of Peter Maunu's guitar, some voices, and some subtle percussion and fretless bass from two other Mark Isham associates, Kurt Wortman and Doug Lunn. They all add to the great atmosphere (there's that word again) of this disc.
I've had my own copy of this disc for a couple of weeks now and it's the one disc that has not left my cd changer. I just change all the other discs around it it seems.
To top it off, I am a major Mark Isham fan and among all of the ancient works on this disc they do a version of Isham's "The Melancholy Of Departure" from Isham's "We Begin" duet disc with Art Lande.
I would recommend this disc to ANY fan of classical music as well as fans of new age music. It really deserves 5 stars and I hope this disc receives the sales numbers that it truly deserves..
I have no idea how my friend at work discovered this CD, but I sure am glad he did.

EBQ Takes the Listener to the Next Passage.......2000-12-07

I have owned this album for five years now and I never grow tired of it. The music is in turns solemn, majestic, soothing, grandiose and intimate. In the liner notes EBQ trumpeter Rolf Smedvig says, "This represents our latest effort exploring, with new arrangements, the music of the modal system. Modal music is based on scales which dominated European music for 1,100 years, from approximately 400 to 1500 and strongly influenced composers for another one hundred years."

In addition to the members of the EBQ, guest musicians are incorporated into the music on guitar, fretless bass, synthesizer, percussion and wordless vocals.

What I love about this music is its ability to transport the listener to another palce and time. Smedvig summed it up best in the liner notes when he concluded," The music is timeless. The old becomes new, the new old. Melodies never end, they only lead to the next passage..." Beautiful music indeed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Absolutely perfect........1999-07-02

This is a wonderful album, which I can't recommend strongly enough. On this disc, Empire Brass succeeds brilliantly in melding the passion and splendor of early music with the eclectic trickery of modern world-music percussion. The arrangements are intricate & delicate, yet powerful, and the sound is pristine. Think of it as the Roman Empire making a techno jazz album. I even used it at my wedding. Fans of acid/techno jazz, world music and brass should not miss this amazing disc.

Average customer rating:

The Chants of Camino De Santiago [Jade]

Manufacturer: Jade / Bmg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004VK8G
Release Date: 2001-03-20

Tracks:

Jhesus Christ
A Que Por Muy Gran Fremosura
Romance De Don Boyso
Pregoneros Van Y Vienen
Nani, Nani
El Rey De Francia
Ondas Do Mar
Mia Yrmana
Lanquan Li Jorn
La Perneta
Gratulantes Celebremus Festum
Non E Gran Cousa
Mariam Matrem
Ad Superni
O Maria Maris Stella
Cuncti Potens Genitor Deus
Benedicamus Domino
Sancta Mater Graciae/Dou Way, Robin
Dum Pater Familias

Amazon.com

This record will transport you into a different world of sound and spirit: simpler, purer, more tranquil and serene. The program consists of chants from the 12th to the 15th centuries and includes several Sephardic songs--some quite dancelike, some rather mournful. Though the melodic range of the chants is naturally very limited, and the prevailing mood is devotional and somber, they have a lot of textural diversity. Some are purely instrumental, others are for one or two unaccompanied voices. When the tenor and bass sing alone, the latter provides a drone to the former's more florid line, or they move in open intervals, alternating between unison and solo. Their duets with the soprano combine unison, conversational give and take, and counterpoint. Most of the chants use a wide variety of vocal and instrumental combinations, with fascinating results. The final song employs the entire group; vigorous, assertive, and celebratory, it keeps adding voices and instruments, becoming increasingly elaborate.

The performing group is most admirable. Several singers also play numerous instruments, which include a citole, a cornemuse, a hackbrett simulating a psalterion, a Persian def, and a Syrian rek, in addition to the more familiar vieles and a large variety of flutes and percussion. Among the singers, tenor Hervé Lamy is outstanding. His voice is sweet and velvety, his expressiveness both chaste and intense.

Tracks:

De Sancta Maria: O frondens virga
De Sancta Maria: Caritas abundat
In Evangelium: O rubor sanguinis
In Evangelium: Deus enim
In Evangelium: Aer enim
In Evangelium: Sed diabolus
De Virginibus: O pulchrae facies
Item de Verginibus: O nobilissima viriditas
De undecim milibus Virginibus: Spiritui Sancto honor sit
In Evangelium: O rubor sanguinis
De undecim milibus Virginibus: Favus distillans
In Matutinis Laudibus: Studium divinitatis
In Matutinis Laudibus: Unde quocumque
In Matutinis Laudibus: De patria etiam
In Matutinis Laudibus: Deus enim
In Matutinis Laudibus: Aer enim
In Evangelium: Et ideo puellae istae
In Evangelium: Deus enim rorem in illas misit
In Evangelium: Sed diabolus
Kyrie, eleison
Kyrie, eleison: O coruscans lux
Kyrie, eleison: Opastor anim arum
De Sancta Maria: Hodie aperuit clausa porta
De Sancta Maria: Caritas abundat
De Sancta Maria: O felix anima
De Sancta Maria: Quia ergo femina
De Sancta Maria: O clarissima mater
De Sancta Maria: O fondens virga
De Virginibus: O pulchrae facies

Customer Reviews:

Truly healing music.......2004-02-27

One of the most gorgous sounding collections of Hildegard of Bingen's music that I have heard! The all female voices are like being lifted to heaven on angel's wings. I took this CD with me to the hospital when I had serious surgery recently. When the pain was at it's worst, I put this CD in my CD-walkman and was peacefully lulled into a most calm state. Truly a CD of healing music. This was one of two CD's that I listened to while in the hospital, the other was Luminous Spirit Chants of Hildegard von Bingen, which is also a most heavenly creation of voice and music with Soprano Rosa Lamoreaux having the voice of an angel.

Gregorian Chants: Medieval Voices [Netherlands]

Average customer rating:

Gregorian Chants: Medieval Voices [Netherlands]
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Excellence
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005N59I
Release Date: 2000-12-13

Tracks:

Czaszu Spasienija
Chierumvimskaja No.7
Skazy Mi Gospodi
Swiatyj Boze
Milost' Mira No.8
Tiebie Pojem
Boze, Boze Moj
Milost' Mira
Dostojno Jest'
Nynie Odpuszczajesky
Da Woskriesniet Bog
Bogorodice Diewo Radujsie
Oj Widit Boh
Niebo I Ziemla
Nowa Radost' Stala
Wsielennaja Wiesielisia
Na Iordanskoj Reczcy
Diwnaja Nowina
Po Wsiomu Switu
Nowaja Radost'
Nova Radost' Stala
Radujtiesia Wsi Ludije
Widie Boh
Likujuszcie
Radujtiesia Wsi Ludije
Bog Priedwiecznyj
Wiesiela Swietu Nowina
Diwa Marya
Nowa Radost' Stala
Dnies' Pojuszczie
Priedwiecznyj
Skinija Zlataja
Nynie Adamie
Swieciac; Swieciac Zoraczki
Cwiet Myslennyj
Kali Zbauca Dziuny
Pakazalas' U Niebie
Oj; Na Mory; Mory
Nowaja Radost'
Sionnia U Miescie Betlejemie

Average customer rating:

Inside Chants

Manufacturer: Harc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAJN6K
Release Date: 2005-01-18

Gregorian and Polyphonic Chants from Medieval Hungary, Vol. 6: Chants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Funeral Chants

Average customer rating:

Gregorian and Polyphonic Chants from Medieval Hungary, Vol. 6: Chants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Funeral Chants

Manufacturer: Hungaroton
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003053
Release Date: 1995-03-10

Russian and Ukranian Chants of the 16th and 17th Centuries

Average customer rating:

Interesting Selection of Old Church Slavonic Music

Russian and Ukranian Chants of the 16th and 17th Centuries

Manufacturer: Legacy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Russia | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Radouisya
Blazhenna
Na Vossoedinenie Ukrany S Rossiei
Pashalna Stihira
Snachala Dnes Poutrou Rano
Vertep (A Den)
Three Ukrainian Chants: Shedshe Trie Tsari/O Darovanni Pobedy/Stihi Pohvalnye Rossii
Masterpieces Of Old-Russian Vocal Art: Mnogoletstvovanie/Dostoino Est (Meet Is It)/Izhe Herouvimi
Kto Tvoyu Spasse, Rizou Razdra
Zlatokovannouyu Troubou
Rozhdestvenskiy Stih (Christmas Verse)
Herouvimska (Cherubic Song)

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Selection of Old Church Slavonic Music.......2000-06-19

Of the 16th & 17th Centuries Russian & Ukrainian Chants CD is mostly solid music. The listener may not be aware that all such chants originally come from Ukraine and the old Kyivan (Kievan) Rus (old Ukraine), even though they are presented here as "Russian". One cut, entitled "On the Unification of Russia and Ukraine" is a typical Russian chauvinist interpretation of Ukrainian history. The Russian-Ukrainian unification is a pure fantasy of both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian government. Enthusiasts of the genre will enjoy this CD, regardless of politics. Today's independent Ukraine and its cultural revival speaks for itself.

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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