Seized by Sweet Desireby Ted_Wilks

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November 07, 2009: This delightful CD gives us a glimpse into what a ground-breaking invention the introduction of three- and four-part notated music (polyphony) was versus single-line notated music. Credit for this invention is given jointly, around the year 1200, to Perotin (a.k.a. Perotinus Magnus or Magister Perotinus) and Leonin (a.k.a. Leoninus, Leonius, or Leo). Tracks 1 and 2 offer examples by Perotin of triple and quadruple organum, respectively; organum may be defined as any of several types of medieval vocal polyphony, usually based on Gregorian chant. The contrast with "traditional" monophonic Gregorian plainchant, with respect to both polyphony and the rhythmical changes incorporated, is astounding. Tracks 10 and 12 similarly offer compositions of Leonin.

For many years, it was assumed that, apart from a few noted pioneers such as Abbess Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), Francesca Caccini (1587-c1645), and Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729), there were very few documented women composers before 1700; indeed, Vitezslava Kapralova's database lists only around 25. Since it was considered "improper" for women to compose, most women composers' works were either unidentified or passed off as the work of a man. Apart from the assumption that nuns sang in private, little was known about women singers. Tracks 3-9 offer songs by women troubadours, who were much more active as composers and singers than many male musicologists would have had us believe.

All the excerpts on this CD are sung by women, and most were probably written for women to sing. Musica Ficta, a Copenhagen-based group that specializes in early vocal music, polyphony, madrigals, and medieval music, performs splendidly under Bo Holten's directorship. Highly recommended!

Ted Wilks