15th Century Song and the Bowed Vihuela
Cantar alla Viola
Nadine Balbeisi – soprano
Fernando Marín – bowed vihuelas
Label – Davinci Classics
This CD displays the 15th century Song throughout Europe. It encompasses French chançons, Franco-flemish and German polyphony and some of the finest Spanish motets, canciones and villancicos, consisting of three-voice pieces, of which each voice appears in manuscripts written separately. Simple and sweet melodies, used to highlight grand poetry, are intricately woven together creating beautiful miniature polyphonic masterpieces. Most of the tracks on the album are dedicated to Francisco de Peñalosa (1470-1528), one of the most famous Spanish composers of his time, known best for his masses and motets yet an excellent composer of secular songs.
“There are plenty of reasons to recommend the new Cantar alla viola album. On the one hand, it offers an excellent approach to the music that was performed at the dawn of the European Renaissance. In addition, it allows knowing the possibilities posed by the conjunction of the voice and the strings of the vihuela. But, above all, it treats the ear to the restrained and calm beauty of timeless music.” – Pablo Rodríguez Canfranc, Catalunya Press