Search - Alfonso X (el Sabio), Traditional, Ensemble Alcatraz :: Visions and Miracles

Passionate, exciting, and superbly performed

09/14/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been an "early music" fan ever since the 1960's, when I chanced upon an album of recorder music by the Kranis Consort (an offshoot of the New York Pro Musica). Few recordings since then have excited me as much, with the exception of David Munrow and some of the Clemencic Consort's work. So I was delighted to discover this album: not only are all the performers superb musicians (many of them well-known in the San Francisco Bay Area early music scene), but their performances are imaginative, passionate, and lively while remaining true to the music's medieval roots. A pleasure to listen to all the way through, and heartily recommended."

Pretty good rendition of the Cantigas

chefdevergue | Spokane, WA United States | 10/21/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a pretty sparse rendition of some of the Cantigas, one of the more no-frills performances I have heard. It is superbly performed, make no mistake about it, but it is something of an acquired taste. This album lacks the rich textures found in "Danse Royale," Ensemble Alcatraz' subsequent album.This is a good album, but because of my personal tastes, it stays on the shelf more than other early music CDs I own. It is strictly a matter of personal taste, so I encourage you to see if this CD appeals to your tastes."