La Bele Marie: Songs To The Virgin From 13th Century France (12)

...especially with this recording - i think background information is absolutely essential as it contains a (modified) recording of Beata viscera, which in its unaltered version contains strong anti-judaism (drastically increasing throughout europe from the 12th century onwards). 

This CD is a collection of french songs to Mary by Anonymous 4, most likely named after the unknown writer, who was a student at Notre Dame in 1270 or 1280. The latin works are all attributed to the musical genus of Conductus: a style of para-liturgical vocal music to accompany processions during service. Except „Ave Maria Gracia Elena“ and „Mater parts et filia“, taken from the „Codex de Las Huelgas“ all of the works are taken from French sources. The chansons on this recording are mostly contrafacta of Trouvère songs, rephrased with almost no variation of the musical substance, taken from the „Claraimbault manuscript.“ 

Disclaimer: The text passages on Beata viscera written by Philippe le Chancelier (a writer for Pérotin from the Notre Dame School) containing strong Anti-Judaism were omitted by the artist’s themselves and are thereby not presented on this recording.

 

 

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