The Earliest Songbook in England: Cambridge University Library MS Ff. I. 17 (1)

The performances are exquisite—neat, clean, with penetrating tone — American Record Guide More…

Release Date: 3rd Jan 2012
Catalogue No: CDH55297
Label: Helios
Length: 64 minutes

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anon.: Verbum patris umanatur O O

1:56

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$1.25

Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

anon.: In hoc ortus occidente

5:03

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Catherine King (soprano)

anon.: Regis cuius potentia

1:27

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Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

anon.: Ecce torpet probitas

3:32

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Stephen Charlesworth (baritone)

anon.: Magno gaudens gaudio

1:41

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Catherine King (soprano)

anon.: Rerum Deus conditor

1:08

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Charles Daniels (tenor)

anon.: Cantu miro

5:16

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Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

anon.: Vacillantis trutine

4:52

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Leigh Nixon (tenor)

anon.: In natali novi regis

2:34

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Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

anon.: Diastematica

4:10

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Catherine King (soprano)

anon.: Divino maduit

0:57

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Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

anon.: Virgo mater salvatoris

4:06

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Stephen Charlesworth (baritone)

anon.: Tronus regis instauratur

1:14

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Charles Daniels (tenor)

anon.: Benedicamus Domino: Spiritus almi

0:53

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Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

anon.: Adulari nesciens

4:05

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Catherine King (soprano)

anon.: Agnus Dei: Qui pius est factus

2:26

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Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

anon.: Resonet, intonet

2:11

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Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

anon.: Ad honorem salvatoris

4:17

$2.00

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Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor)
Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

Ad honorem salvatoris

2:01

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Ad honorem salvatoris

2:16

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anon.: Argumenta faluntur fisice

3:55

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Catherine King (soprano)

anon.: Flos floriger

2:29

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Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

anon.: Licet eger cum egrotis

5:01

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Charles Daniels (tenor)

anon.: Ad cantus letitie

1:18

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Gothic Voices
Christopher Page

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About

Probably copied around 1200, this songbook was discarded within a generation or so and used as flyleaves for another book. It was poorly written, decayed and damp, marred by stains and the ravages of time, but because the pages were being used for another purpose, some unknown benefactor preserved this wealth of music and poetry. The songbook then remained hidden for some six hundred years.

This recording is an almost complete anthology of songs from the booklet. It isn’t known where it was copied, but it is believed to be an important religious foundation that housed by chance a few unusually keen singers. Many of the pieces are associated with major feasts of the liturgical year, including some which fall in the intensely festive period between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The tone of many of the texts is therefore joyful.

Reviews

The performances are exquisite—neat, clean, with penetrating tone

Classic CD

A winner. A magical evocation of a lost English 12th-century world

Helps us to understand how far advanced the music of the 13th century had become, while still appreciating its own brand of beauty. Gothic Voices has the skill to bring it all to life, as they do everything they touch. This is a permanent addition to any good medieval collection

Gothic Voices at their best … an astonishing and varied collection

Another happy triumph for Christopher Page and his team. As usual with Gothic Voices the singing is seamless and utterly beyond criticism. A perfect hour’s listening

Early Music Today

A wealth of music and poetry now reunited and brought to life

Offer, The Earliest Songbook in England

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