Search - Markus Tapio :: Piae Cantiones: Latin Song in Medieval Finland

Subtle performance of rare late medieval music.

tony.glad@bigpond.com | Brisbane, Australia | 01/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Retrover gives a highly musical and subtle performance of mostly late medieval songs to Latin words and instrumental pieces, rescued from oblivion in a rare printed collection in the sixteenth century. A few carols will be familiar from Neal's use of the melodies for English carols with his own words. Perhaps it's as well that Retrover does not use the spring carol which we know only too well in a rhythmically mangled version as "Good King Wenceslas". The multinational singers and instrumentalists are all expert and the result a joy to the ear. I've waited a long time for a recording of this music and a fair while for this CD, which was originally released only in Finland and neighbouring countries. I strongly recommend it, for any season of the year."