Search - Juan de Anchieta, Anonymous, Johannes Cornago :: 1492: Music in Age of Discovery

Stands Alone in My Collection

mattgb1 | New York City | 05/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own hundreds of albums, but nothing else like this one. Of all the albums I own, I particularly want to write about this little-known gem.The premise of this album is to capture and present the mentality and mood throughout Europe during that time as shown through its music. And it succeeds!This album is fantastic. I've owned it for years, and yet I still listen to it often. Together with a well written insert that tells the stories behind each piece, and the political backdrop behind each one, it takes you through the sense of wonder, fear and hope, that people felt at a time when the strange new world beyond the European continent was suddenly opening up to them, both foreboding and alluring.It touches also upon several of the age-of-discovery issues, including religious conflicts with other cultures, the quest for wealth, the joy of expansion and the sorrow of loss. A once-provincial mentality was suddenly being replaced by an awareness of that mysterious "other-ness" out there, and this was being expressed in the music, brought so successfully through in this album.The opening piece of this album is also its theme: Ayo visto lo mappamundi (I have seen the maps of the world). And this sets the stage for the rest of your voyage.One favorite example I want to single out is a piece of Andalusian music that was written during (or shortly after) the time when Spain went from Moorish to Christian: in this amazing piece, we hear what at first sounds like Arabic music; after a few times you start to hear the new influence on Arabic music by the Medieval Europeans... and then finally, you realize that what you're hearing is that missing link which will soon become the phenomenon called "Flamenco!" And you'll feel a sense of discovery all your own."

Ebullient and multi-cultural!

Brianna Neal | USA | 11/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A terrific recording by the Waverly Consort! Framed by differing arrangements of the Italian song "Ayo visto lo mappamundi" (I have seen the world map), the selections on this CD take the listener through Italy, Moorish Spain, the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, the harsh reality of the expelled Spanish Jews, and finally to the new world, where the thrill of discovery for the Spaniards was countered by the sorrow of the subjugated and slaughtered natives. The Moorish and Sephardic numbers are full of exotic eastern flair, enhanced by George Mgrdichian's sultry oud playing. Other instruments used include viol, recorder, lute, harp, gemshorn, organetto, citole, vihuela, hurdy-gurdy, saz, vielle, kemence, sacbut, shawm, flute, panpipes, cornamuse, dumbek and claves. The fine instrumentalists are complimented by a sextet of clear-voiced vocalists--two sopranos, countertenor, two tenors and bass, performing both as soloists and together. This richly varied program, arranged and selected by Kay and Michael Jaffee, has something for everyone, and all of it well done! For more music of early Spain, check out also the releases of Hesperion XX, Ensemble Accentus, and the CD "Los Ministriles: Spanish Renaissance Music" by Piffaro, the Renaissance Band."

Incredible CD

Heliana Sandulescu | Seattle | 10/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've owned this CD for a very long time, yet I still play it often. Soothing and exhilarating at the same time."