Search - Gauthier de Coincy, French Anonymous, Martin Codax :: Ave Eva, Songs Of Womanhood From The 12th And 13th Centuries

Although women in the Middle Ages did not tend to occupy visible positions of power, both the chivalric code and religious tradition assured women an exalted status in matters of social interaction. Attitudes and practices related to veneration of the Virgin Mary carried over directly into secular, romantic love--and vice versa. We can tell a lot about how this actually worked--and its degree of importance--by examining the large number of medieval songs and poems devoted to images and descriptions of women. The songs on this disc cover a wide range of these portraits, whether expressing reverence for the Virgin Mary or describing an encounter with a beautiful shepherdess. Singer Brigitte Lesne uses her colorful, expressive voice to imbue each song with a distinct character, and accompanies herself on hurdy-gurdy, harp, and various percussion instruments. --David Vernier