Cantrix
Medieval Music for St. John the Baptist from the Royal Convents of Sigena (Hospitallers)
and Las Huelgas (Cistercians)
ensemble Peregrina
Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett
Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett (AB) — voice, harp, direction / Gesang, Harfe, Leitung / voix, harpe, direction
Kelly Landerkin (KL) — voice / Gesang / voix
Lorenza Donadini (LD) — voice / Gesang / voix
Hanna Järveläinen (HJ) — voice / Gesang / voix
Eve Kopli (EK) — voice / Gesang / voix
Agnieszka M. Tutton (AT) — voice / Gesang / voix
Baptiste Romain (BR) — vielle, bells / Vielle, Glocken / vielle, cloches
Mathias Spoerry (MS) — voice / Gesang / voix
The liturgical pieces on the new Raumklang CD “Cantrix” tell of the life of St. John the Baptist, patron of the Order of Malta, which this year celebrates the 900th anniversary of its official recognition by the Pope as a sovereign order. The veneration of St. John was widespread in Europe and Byzantium in the early Middle Ages. His particular role as the herald of the Redeemer and his kinship with Christ and the Virgin Mary made him a popular subject in music and the visual arts.
With the present program, ensemble Peregrina & Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett bring to life again the tradition of the singing nuns from the royal convents of Sigena (Hospitallers) and Las Huelgas (Cistercians). The pure, clear women’s voices are accompanied by the instrumental improvisations of virtuoso vielle player Baptiste Romain and Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett (harp).
The CD “Veiled Desires,” an often tongue-in-cheek program about the lives and loves of the nuns behind the monastery walls – a “masterpiece” (WDR TonArt) – which was nominated for the ICMA, appeared in 2012, likewise on Raumklang.
1. Mulierium hodie/INTER NATOS
AT, LD, EK (motetus),
AB, HJ, KL (tenor), BR (bells)
02:00
2. Inter natos V. Hic venit/Preparator veritatis
responsorium with prosula, Sigena, 14th–15th c.
HJ (verse), AB & LD (prosula),
KL, EK, AT
04:04
3. a) Mulierum hodie/MULIERUM
b) Prima dedit femina/MULIERUM
c) Mulierum/Prima dedit/MULIERUM
motets, Huelgas, 13th–14th c. (a),
Paris, 13th c. (b & c),
KL (ac), AB (bc), HJ (abc)
02:13
4. Precursor Domini V. Hic est enim propheta
responsorium, Sigena, 14th–15th c.
LD (verse), AB, KL, HJ, EK, AT
02:32
5. Helisabet Zacharie
sequence, Huelgas, 13th–14th c
AB, KL, LD, HJ, EK, AT
06:43
6. Iohanne
instrumental piece
AB (harp), BR (vielle)
01:58
7. Prodit lucis radius/MULIERUM
conductus-motet, Paris, 13th c.
KL, AB, HJ
00:50
8. Descendit angelus V. Ne timeas
responsorium, Sigena, 14th–15th c.
EK (verse), AB, KL, LD, HJ, AT
02:40
9. Benedicamus/Hic est enim precursor
motet, Germany, 14th c.
Benedicamus trope, Huelgas, 13th–14th c.
AB & HJ (trope), LD, EK, AT
01:44
10. Peire Vidal – S’ieu fos en cort
troubadour song, Aquitaine, 12th c.
MS, BR (vielle)
07:04
11. Rostainh Berenguier de Marselha –
La dousa paria
estampie
AB (harp), BR (vielle)
02:33
12. Ut queant laxis
hymn (instrumental)
BR (bells)
01:06
13. Adsit Iohannes Baptista
polyphonic prosa, Aquitaine, 12th c.
KL, AB
01:11
14. All. Tu puer propheta
Alleluia verse, Sigena, 14th–15th c.
KL (verse), AB, LD, HJ, EK, AT
01:32
15. Elisabeth ex opere V. Nullus deffidat
rhymed responsorium, Sigena, 14th–15th c.
AB (verse), LD, HJ, EK, AT
02:37
16. Perhibentur cunctis rerum
Benedicamus trope, Huelgas, 13th–14th c.
KL
02:53
17. a) La bele etoile/La bele en cui/IOHANNE
b) Celui en cui/La bele estoile/La bele en cui/IOHANNE
motets, Paris, 13th c.
EK (ab), LD (ab), HJ (ab), AB (b)
02:28
18. Ingresso Zacharia V. Et Zacharias turbatus est
responsorium, Sigena, 14th–15th c.
KL (verse), AB, LD, HJ, EK, AT
02:02
19. Ioanne Yelisabet/IOHANNE
motet, Paris, 13th c.
AT, AB
00:49
20. a) Mulieris marcens/[MULIERUM]
b) Mulier misterio/[MULIERUM]
motets, Huelgas, 13th–14th c.
LD, EK, AB (harp), BR (vielle)
03:50
21. Precursorem summi regis
prosa, Aquitaine, 11th c.
AB, KL
04:07
22. S’ieu fos en cort
estampie
BR (vielle)
04:49
23. Benedicamus/O quam sanctum
Benedicamus trope, Huelgas, 13th–14th c.
LD (trope), AB, HJ, EK, AT
01:34
24. Benedicamus Domino
Huelgas, 13th–14th c.
LD, EK, KL (solo) – HJ, AT, AB & BR (bells)
02:09
Total 65:41
