Search - Italian Anonymous, Giraut de Bornelh, Bertrand de Born :: The Dante Troubadours

If you want to get a good idea of what musical entertainment was like in southern France and Italy in the 13th century, or if you just want to be entertained, this recording of stylish, expert performances will satisfy your desire. The troubadours were the first to work toward perfection of poetic form and vernacular language. Dante, the famous 13th-century Italian poet, admired these articulate poet-musicians and mentioned his debt to their art in several of his works. The Martin Best Ensemble performs 18 of these immediately likable songs of love and chivalry. A few selections are instrumental only; others, performed with solo voice or voice with instruments, are delivered in an expressive style that reminds us that eloquent poetry and well-crafted melodies remain vital and undiminished in their appeal, be they eight or 800 years old. --David Vernier