Hildegard: Ave generosa

Daniel Taylor is one of the world’s most sought after countertenors in the world and appears on over 100 recordings. Having made his debut at Glyndebourne, he followed it by participating in Jonathan Miller’s production of Handel’s Rodelinda.

In this latest release from Canadian label Analekta, Daniel performs a disc of ‘Ave Maria’s’ written by Caccini, Schubert, Byrd, von Bingen, Monteverdi and others, so provides a definitive disc of this repertoire performed by a world class singer.

Garth Knox is one of the most versatile and audacious string players today, a member of the famous Arditti Quartet for eight years and a virtuoso viola soloist, he is now a leading exponent of the viola d’amore (the rare instrument from the Baroque era with seven playing and another seven resonating strings that allow for a particularly full and warm sound). On Saltarello he plays both instruments, as well as the fiddle, in an astonishing range of music spanning 1000 years.

From opposite ends of this timescale are Hildegard of Bingen’s Ave, generosa, a song of praise to the Virgin Mary, and Vent Nocturne, pieces for viola and electronics written for Knox by Kaija Saariaho. The adventurous programme also brings in Guillaume de Machaut, John Dowland and Purcell, a concerto for viola d’amore by Vivaldi, and a new work for solo viola by Garth himself, plus his captivating arrangements of 14th century dances and traditional Celtic tunes (he was born in Ireland and raised in Scotland). Sounds and feelings resonate across the centuries…

Knox comments: “Each of my instruments – medieval fiddle, viola d’amore and viola – brings its own perspective and sound world to the chosen pieces, and is complemented by its corresponding partner (fiddle/percussion, viola d’amore/cello and viola/electronics). The aim was to ‘bring back’ the pieces to the present day and to explore them here and now without destroying their inherent qualities.”

He is joined for different pieces by percussionist Sylvain Lemêtre or French cellist Agnès Vesterman. She also contributed to his previous “hypnotic” recital for ECM, D’Amore (4766369), named as Gramophone’s ‘Disc of the Month’ in September, 2008.

An encounter between Gregorian chant and folk music. Through centuries, through generations, from person to person, these traditions have sounded side by side and still do. Gregorian chant from Sweden’s oldest book, Marian songs and Mass sections from various medieval manuscripts merge in a mysterious way with pastoral tunes from a saxophone. Leave the everyday noise and let yourself be brought beyond time and space!

Marie-Luise Hinrichs has transcribed the songs of Hildegard von Bingen for piano. She writes: "I encountered Hildegard von Bingen for the first time in June 2005. I read the book Vision and was captivated by it. I immediately bought the songs, and a new dimension of music opened up to me". The CD also includes George Gurdjieff’s Oriental piano music.

Hildegard of Bingen is one of the most important personalities in the religious life of the Middle Ages. In this recording, the Ensemble for Early Music Augsburg perform the hymns of Hlidegard alongside the music of her time, including a hymn by Peter Abelard and sacred songs from the manuscript of S.Martial in Limoges.

The most beautiful melodies which survive from the middle ages are dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This CD presents works by Hildegard of Bingen, Oswald of Wolkenstein and Philippe de Vitry, as well as extracts from famous collections such as the Llibre Vermell, the Codex Las Huelgas and the Colmar Manuscript.

Estampie are known for their distinctive crossover between medieval and electronic music – this CD is a purely historical recording and a must for all collectors of music from this period.

A new recording by the ascending British star of the early music and baroque scene. Grace Davidson’s distinctive and ethereal voice can be heard in ensemble with such groups as The Sixteen, Tenebrae, the Monteverdi Choir, the English Concert, the Gabrieli Consort, Ensemble Plus Ultra and Ex Cathedra. This is the first album devoted entirely to her own voice and features her in a range of early music repertoire from Hildegard to Mozart and is accompanied by the original instrument orchestra Fiori Musicali.

Grace Davidson takes as her canvas for this vocal portrait music ranging over 700 years of musical history, displaying a wonderful variety of musical textures and colours. From the subtle, suggestive monody of Hildegard of Bingen (the 12th-century visionary) through to the distinctive music of the Neapolitan baroque and the vivid tones of Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate this is a musical journey portraying an outstandingly beautiful new voice. The music performed includes rarities such as Mancini, Koželuch and Leo as well as well known works by John Dowland, Bach and Mozart.