Search - Italian Anonymous, Alfonso X (el Sabio), Richard I Coeur-de-lion :: The Music of Kings

Medieval courts were the main gathering centers of professional musicians aside from churches. No wonder, then, that even some of the king and noblemen applied themselves to this creative field. Often, however, they preferred to remain anonymous in their compositions, so authorship cannot always be ascertained. The Music of the Kings features compositions by three medieval European kings: Richard I the Lion-Hearted and Henry VIII of England, and Alfonos X "The Wise" of Spain. Also includes other pieces performed at courts or attached to life at court (dances, songs of troubadours and trouvères, and those dedicated to the rulers).Richard the Lion-Hearted was the grandson of a famous troubadour and was reared among artists. Both Henry VIII and Alfonos X had good musical educations and were patrons of the arts.Musica Antiqua Consort was founded by mezzo-soprano Vera Zlokovich after her groundbreaking research into the performance of old Orthodox liturgical chants.