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Nowel Syng We
Noel Nouvelet is a traditional French carol dating back to 1500. The words “noel” and “nouvelet” both originate from the same root, meaning “news” and “newness”. indicating that the carol belongs to New Year festivities. Listen out for the hurdy-gurdy. The title track, Nowel Syng We, is another macaronic carol (the words ate in English and Latin), medieval in origin, rhythmically complex and sophisticated, which we perform with unaccompanied voices. The instrumental tune, Shepherds Dance, is a lively and catchy piece from 1551, by the Flemish composer, instrumentalist and publisher, Tielman Susato, on which, in our arrangement, the virginals, the predecessor of the harpsichord, can be heard. The beautiful and very early carol, Quem Pastores, is sung here unaccompanied, in its original Latin form The first of the Spanish piece on this CD, Verbum Caro Factum Est (The Word was Made Flesh) is another lively piece which features the good-humoured wildness of crumhorns. Our version of the gentle Coventry Carol is here played as a lute song. It is a lullaby which refers, poignantly and ironically, to the Massacre of the Innocents by King Herod. It originates in a 16th Century mystery play Scattered throughout the CD is a series of vocal and instrumental pieces by the great German composer, musicologist and collector, Michael Praetorius, mostly taken from his 1609 edition of Christmas Hymns. These are In Dulce Jubilo, Puer Natus, Bransle de la Torche, In Natali Domini, and Christmas Song, Some of the tunes will be familiar, but they all demonstrate the inventiveness and musical sophistication of their composer. Blessed Be That Maid Marie, dating from the 16th Century and accompanied by recorders, is another macaronic carol. a charming tune, with words which relate the Nativity. Next comes our only non-European instrumental piece, Pobre Nino, meaning Poor Child, which is Mexican in origin. We build up to the shawm, the cornamuse and crumhorn in our arrangement, to convey the lively, raucous spirit of this traditional piece. One of the more familiar pieces, as well as one of the earliest, is Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, with Latin words which may be as early as the 9th Century. We use the Renaissance tenor recorder to accompany voices and create a sense of simplicity and spareness. The only song in this collection to celebrate the Annunciation is the haunting Gabriel’s Message, which, in our arrangement, features the recorders. Gaudete (Rejoice) is another unaccompanied Latin carol, again very early and very well-known. Originating in the Basque country some 500 years ago, here sung in the early English version, is the lovely lullaby relating the infancy of Christ, I Saw a Maiden, which is accompanied on the virginals. The traditional and festively rollicking Gloucestershire Wassail moves the CD towards its energetic climax. Wassail songs were – and in many cases still are - familiar in many parts of Great Britain. The last piece, another Spanish Christmas song, is Riu Riu Chiu , a joyful and playful celebratory villancico, a vernacular form very popular in Renaissance Spain, rhythmically exciting and varied. It brings our programme of festive music to a sparkling conclusion. OrderingThe Nowel Syng We CD costs £12, but any copies ordered before 20th December 2008 will be charged at a SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PRICE of £10, plus 75p postage and packing. If you'd like to order, please download the order form by clicking here. Then simply print it out, fill it in and send it with your payment to: Pavane Please make cheques payable to Pavane. |
