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Alfonso X “El Sabio” (1221 – 1284) Rosas das Rosas – Cantiga
King Alfonso X of Castilla y Leon, called El Sabio (the wise) because of his interest in astronomy and music, is responsible for one of the great treasures of Medieval music, a collection of over 400 cantigas (little songs) in honor of the Virgin Mary. Most recount miracles, but every tenth one is a hymn of praise, such as this one…
Michael Praetorius (1571 – 1621) Spagnoletta
Praetorius was from Thuringia and was an incredibly prolific writer about music and instruments as well as a composer and collector of the music of his period. This piece is from “Terpsichore,” a volume of dances published in 1612…
Jean-Baptiste Besard (1567 – after 1618) Campanae Parisienses
Besard was a lawyer who published works on history, philosophy and medicine as well as two books of music for the lute in various combinations. This piece is a fragile little evocation of the bells of Paris…
Attributed to Jacob Arcadelt (c. 1505 – c. 1568) Ave Maria – Motet
In 1842 Pierre-Louis Dietsch produced a 4-part Ave Maria which he claimed was the work of Arcadelt. Though suspected to be a forgery, it gained a popularity which has existed to this day. Then in 1927 it was discovered to be actually based on an obscure 3-part Arcadelt secular chanson “Nous voyons que les hommes” of 1567…
Traditional Carols A Christmas Triptych
Il est ne (He is born) – French
Lulajze Jezuniu (Lullaby little Jesus) – Polish
Dzisiaj w Betlejem (Today in Bethlehem) – Polish
With the multitude of Christmas carols available, it is difficult to make choices among them. The French carol is fairly well known, whoever the two Polish carols are not but deserve to be.” S. Milligan
