Adoratur rosa  /  Rondellus


Music from 12th and 13th century Spain






rondellus.ee
RS Records, RS 0906

2009





Adoratur rosa
Music from 12th and 13th century Spain


1. Maria, virgo virginum  [3:12]   Codex Las Huelgas (No. 52, f. 34v.)   Hu  52
voice MS ML, percussion RS

2. Ad superni regis decus  [3:40]  Codex Calixtinus [f. 215 (186)]   cc  98
Magister Albericus archiepiscopus Bituricensis
voice MS EK

3. Quen a festa  [2:47]  Cantigas de Santa Maria No. 195   CSM  195
symphony, fiddle KS, recorder, percussion RS

4. Santa Maria amar  [7:06]  Cantigas de Santa Maria No. 7   CSM  7
voice ML MS EK, fiddle KS, recorder, lute

5. A Virgen mui groriosa  [5:12]  Cantigas de Santa Maria No.42   CSM  42
voice MS EK ML, fiddle KS, symphony, recorder, percussion RS

6. Vox nostra resonet  [2:01]  Codex Calixtinus [f. 216v. (187v.)]   cc  102
Magister Iohannes Legalis
voice EK MS ML

7. Helizabet Zacharie  [9:08]   Codex Las Huelgas (No. 69, f. 63r.)   Hu  69
voice MS EK, fiddle KS, lute

8. Intra viridarium  [2:42]   Codex Las Huelgas (No. 79, f. 63v.)   Hu  79
voice MS EK, percussion RS

9. Nas mentes  [3:54]  Cantigas de Santa Maria No. 29   CSM  29
voice EK MS ML, fiddle KS, symphony, recorder

10. Quen a omagen  [4:52]  Cantigas de Santa Maria No. 353   CSM  353
voice ML, lute, fiddle KS, recorder

11. Gratulantes celebremus festum  [3:10]  Codex Calixtinus [f. 214v. (185v.)]   cc  97
Magister Goslenus episcopus Suessionis
voice EK MS ML

12. Angelorum laude digna  [8:57]   Codex Las Huelgas (No. 60, f. 48r.)   Hu  60
voice MS  voice EK, lute, fiddle KS EK, symphony

13. Santa María, estrela do dia  [4:15]  Cantigas de Santa Maria No. 100   CSM  100
voice MS ML EK, fiddle KS, recorder, percussion RS MS









RONDELLUS

Maria Staak — voice, symphony, percussion
Eve Kopli — voice, fiddle
Marilin Lips — voice
Kristi Saac — fiddle
Eva-Maria Ellec — recorder
Robert Staak — lute, percussion



Total time: 60:57

Recorded at the Tallinn Merchant Guild
from 25th to 27th October 2008
Recording engineer: Maido Maadik
© ℗ 2009 Rondellus/Estonian Public Broadcasting Company
Produced by Robert Staak
Design by Irina Tammis
www.rondellus.ee









Codex Calixtinus (12th century)

Since the Middle Ages, Santiago de Compostela has been one of the most important pilgrimage destinations after Rome and Jerusalem. In the 9th century, a shrine, and later a cathedral, were erected at the burial place of the Apostle James (Jacob). The miracle performing power of the saint's worldly remains was confirmed several times, thereby inspiring new pilgrims.

The Codex Calixtinus, or the Liber Sancti Jacobi (Book of St. Jacob), was written between 1130-1140. The greater part of the manuscript includes the descriptions of James' life and miracles, although the book has also been called the world's oldest tourist guidebook, because it includes a detailed guide for pilgrims. The first section of the manuscript includes sermons and liturgical material together with Gregorian chant melodies. As far as music is concerned, however, the final section of the book, which includes 20 polyphonic compositions (one for three voices, and the rest for two), is especially interesting. The compositions, written in clear and beautiful calligraphic handwriting, are excellent examples of early organum predating the Notre-Dame school.


Codex Las Huelgas (13th century)

This manuscript was written at the beginning of the 14th century by the nuns of the convent of Las Huelgas, at the command of the Abbess Maria Gonzalez de Agüero. However, the music it contains is considerably older, originating from 1241-1288. The large Codex Las Huelgas is one of the most important sources from mediaeval Spain. It contains almost 100 polyphonic mass settings, 60 motets for 2-4 voices, and 30 conductus. The manuscript is now kept at the convent of Las Huelgas near the small town of Burgos, and it disproves the hypothesis that Gregorian chant and singing at mass were the preogative of monks (men).


Cantigas de Santa Maria (13th century)

The large collection of songs in Galician-Portuguese language, The Cantigas de Santa Maria, was assembled at the court of King Alfonso X the Wise (1221-1284) of Castile, León and Galicia in the second half of the 13th century. The King himself may have contributed to some of the songs in the collection, of which there are more than 400. This is one of the largest collections of monophonic songs from the Middle Ages. The great majority of the songs are narratives of miracles of the Blessed Virgin. The Cantigas de Santa Maria are preserved in four manuscripts, of which three are in Spain (two in the Monastery of Escorial and one in Madrid) and one in Florence. The two most important are the Escorial manuscripts. They contain a series of beautiful and richly illuminated miniatures of musicians playing various instruments, and of others describing visually the miracle recounted in the song.