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Alpha Productions
This French label specializes in 'early music' and classical ensembles, and their catalog includes some marvelous marriages of art-music and folk, performed by some of Europe's best classical and revival musicians.
La Tarantella: Antidotum Tarantulae - Lucilla Galeazzi, Marco Beasley,L'Arpeggiata and Christina Pluhar
$18.99
(cdRoots# alp-503)
New SACD Edition (2010) - A fascinating, original crossover of folk and classical, with the musicians of the Renaissance ensemble L'Arpeggiata joining the illustrious singers Galeazzi and Beasley, performed on modern and ancient instruments including chitarra battente, lutes, harp, psaltry. With Alfio Antico, Eero Palviainen, Marcello Vitale and many other fine musicians. (This SACD edition includes one additional track not on the original release)
La Veillée imaginaire: Airs populaires harmonisés, de Chopin à Canteloube - Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, Françoise Masset, François Lazarevitch
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-528)
The composers of the 19th and 2th centuries were often passionate about popular musical traditions. Joseph Canteloube (1879-1957), Maurice Emmanuel (1862-1938), or Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894) who said from himself: « I rhythm my music with my ‘Auvergnat's clogs » gave tribute to those popular melodies, by harmonising them with creativity, taste and respect. Listen
Aksak - Melodies of the south of Balkans - Aromates, Michèle Claude
$18.99
(cdRoots# alp-527)
After its previous discs dedicated to the Arabo-Andalousian universe, the Aromates ensemble makes a visit to the Balkans. These Bulgarian, Macedonian and Greek melodies have been influenced by the Persian, Ottoman and European music. They are characterized by the so-called 'Aksak' or 'lame rhythms.'
Istanpitta: Danses florentines du Trecento - Henri Agnel
$18.99
(cdRoots# alp-510)
Although the estampies are formally based on the scheme of verse and refrains, they allow for a certain degree of freedom. During the fourteenth century, music was mobile, composed then reinvented: improvisation, ornamentation and the art of preluding were the keynote. Henri Agnel directs the ensemble, and plays cistre, ceterina, oud; joined by Mickael Nick, quinton; Henri Tournier, flûte traversière (bansouri); Djamchid Chemirani, zarb; Idriss Agnel, oud
Marions les roses: Chansons and psaumes, de la France à l'Empire Ottoman - Les Fin' Amoureuses
$18.99
(cdRoots# alp-517)
Ottoman music in France, performed by Emmanuelle Drouet - voice, Nannette van Zanten - voice, vièle, viole and Nathalie Waller, voice, vièle, viole, dilruba. By creating their own harmonizations, accompaniments, and musical language, Fin' Amoureuses rethink the sephardic love songs of the Ottoman Empire in which, since the era of François I, French culture was much in vogue.
Alla Napoletana, Villanesche & mascherate - Suonare e cantare, Jean Gaillard
$18.99
(cdRoots# alp-524)
Inspired by the work of Gian Domenico del Giovane da Nola (1510-1592), organist and later master of the church of the Annunciation in Naples. In addition to a number of madrigals and motets, he left a rich collection of Canzoni Villanesche (1545). These Canzoni Villanesche (or Napolitane) were songs on popular themes, originally written for three voices in the Neapolitan dialect. The texts are characterised by their burlesque or erotic inspiration, usually containing metaphors, popular proverbs, malicious or saucy puns, distorted words and various types of comical or meaningless onomatopoeia. The programme is enriched by a selection of varied instrumental pieces, featuring not only instruments that were fashionable during the Renaissance (recorders, post horns, reed instruments, violas, luths, guitars, percussions and bagpipes), but also typical Neapolitan instruments as colascioni, tammorri, tromba degli zingari and more.
Danses des bergers, danses Des loups - Francois Lazarevitch
$18.99
(cdRoots# alp-516)
The traditional repertories of central France and the Auvergne are presented by François Lazarevitch and Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien (cornemuses, voice, violon, vielle à roue, diatonic accordion and cabrett), bringing to life traditional music rich in vivid imagery and unexpected energy, a traditional repertoire that has inspired 20th century composers including Francis Poulenc, Darius Milhaud and most notably Joseph Canteloube.
Manuscrit Susanne van Soldt: Danses, chansons and psaumes des Flandres, 1599 - Les Witches
$18.99
(cdRoots# alp-526)
The source of this music is Susan Van Soldt's manuscript of the end of the 16th century, comprising dances, songs and psalms adapted to the virginal or the harpsichord. Aged 16 when she noted in this copy-book the pieces she probably enjoyed playing at home, Susan was a young protestant who had to leave Flanders for England with her family at this time of raging religious conflict between Christians. The majority of pieces in the manuscript are reductions for the keyboard. Contrary to what is usually the case, the Witches had therefore to imagine, on the basis of these reductions, the «original » versions for instrumental ensembles and hence recreate the tonal colours that we see in Brueghel's country fairs, weddings and village feasts. Claire Michon : flute, Freddy Eichelberger : virginal and organ, Odile Edouard : violin, Pascale Boquet : lute, Sylvie Moquet : viola da gamba, Mickaël Cozien : virginal, Françoise Rivalland : percussion and rommelpot.
Simelibärg: Mélodies et danses anciennes de Suisse allemande - Alpbarock, ves Rechsteiner
$19.99
(cdRoots# alp-525)
The Alpbarock group comprises six musicians from various backgrounds, who came together to bring new life to old melodies from the Swiss popular repertoire. The surprising programme of this recording revives ballads, love songs or death dances hailing from non-written traditions. At the crossroads between tradition and creation, a result that offers a refreshing new view of the concept of 'popular' music. The recording was made at the Swiss National Museum, which conserves chamber organs formerly used in the wealthy farms of Toggenburg and Emmenthal between 1750 and 1850. Listen
La Passion de Clermont: Hora vos dic vera raizun - Brice Duisit
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-520)
The turn of the first millennium was experienced by people of that time not with fear that the world was coming to an end, but rather with hope that the world would be renewed, as 'the promise of a new Spring'. Thus, Christ's Passion came to symbolise the resurrection of the Church; a great reformation began. Seen in that context the lyric poem La Passion de Clermont takes on its full meaning. Brice Duisit performs vocals and vièle à archet.
Follow - Joel Grare
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-504)
Bells, Indian double-headed drums, bendirs and many other instruments blend together and offer a fascinating imaginary journey: Grare integrates all the possible and imaginable influences and invents a unique and outstanding world of sounds. Joël Grare, percussions and featuring percussion ensemble Koân with Axel Lecourt and Nicolas Giraud on trumpet and percussions
Une Messe pour la Saint-Michel et tous les saints anges - Freddy Eichelberger, Michel Godard and Ludus Modalis
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-514)
This recording recreates the 'Ordinary' of a seventeenth-century Catholic Mass, during which the organ and the choir continuously respond, with parts entirely improvised by the choir as well as the organ.Freddy Eichelberger, orgue; Michel Godard, serpent and the vocal trio Ludus Modalis
Paris - Istanbul - Shanghai - Joël Grare
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-523)
Joël Grare (ar., percussion), Guo Gan (erhu), Bruno Helstroffer (theorbo), Emek Evci (bass), Karine Herroud Gonzalez (Flamenco) with the participation of the ensemble Les Tambours de Lune, Claire Lefilliâtre (soprano vocal) and Véronica Votti (cello). This recording is a manifesto of modernism, culture, temporality, style and improvisation. This Paris-Istambul-Shanghaïensemble is a musical invitation to travel. Somewhere between a chamber music ensemble and a traditional one, they play standardsmuch like in jazz. But their standards are classic themes from Spain, Turkey and China, ancient music… Puching these melodies well beyond their borders, thoroughly enjoying them, improvising, composing, whether or not in the style of their country or their period, following moods and moments to a uniqque new sound.
La bella Noeva - Marco Beasley with Guido Morini
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-508)
Italian singer Beasley and accordionist Morini interpret 17th and 18th century 'broadsides,' popular songs of the time that often competed with opera in terms of popularity and success. Accompanied by a small ensemble of violin, viola, théorbe and archiluth (lutes) and Baroque guitar.
L'engrenage - Louis Sclavis and Quatuor Habanera
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-518)
The composers Alexandros Markeas, Alain Berlaud and Yassen Vodenitcharov, long-standing associates of the Quatuor Habanera, thought out a program of works that would enable the jazz clarinetist Louis Sclavis to contrast and compare his world with that of the Quartet. Each of the scores was created with the idea of enabling him to extemporize his part above those of the four saxophonists.
Se canta que recante: Chants des moments perdus en Massif Central - Bruno Bonhoure; La Camera delle Lacrime
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-519)
This recording explores the traditional music of the Occitan-speaking people of south-central France known as the Massif Central as well as the influence that the emigrants to Paris had on the music of their native region. Bruno Bonhoure gives a bold interpretation of some of those songs. He is joined by the charming voice of the Italian singer Patrizia Bovi. Fresh and alive, their interpretation brings out all the intrinsic beauty and lyricism of these pieces, which have all too often been diminished by false authenticity. / Bruno Bonhoure, voix and direction; Jean-luc Tamby, renaissance lute and mandora; Karim Touré, tambour sur cadre, tambourin, bendir and djembes, derbouka à cymbalettes, tambour of Sri Lanka
Rayon de Lune, Mélodies andalouses du Moyen-Orient - Ensemble Aromates, Michèle Claude
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-521)
Following his critical triumph of 2005, Jardin de Myrtes, Michèle Claude offers a 2007 recording which lovingly combines the musical idioms of Al Andalous with the timbres of the organetto, the psaltery, the harpsichord and a rich selection of percussion instruments. This disk is at the crossroads, knows of no borders and reminds us that the very character of music is universal.
Trobar: Chansons d'amour, de la Vierge à la Dame - Jean-Paul Rigaud and Beatus
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-522)
A program of love songs presents pieces from the repertoire of the monastery of St Martial de Limoges, which includes the earliest written polyphonic compositions that influenced Bernard de Ventadour, one of the finest of the troubadour poets and probably the most important musically. Bernard's songs show an idealistic view of courtly love that is very close to the themes that appear frequently in the monastic tropes referring to the Virgin Mary.
Aux Marches du Palais - Romances et complaintes de la France d'autrefois - Le Poeme Harmonique
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-500)
This record explores the "hazy" boundaries between written and oral traditions, as well as the complex links that unite them. It provides a moving experience for the twenty first-century listener who can imagine the distance travelled and the paths taken by the simple melodies we still hum today.
La Votz Deus Anjos - Balaguera
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-506)
Polyphonies du Béarn and des Pyrénées Gasconnes - Heirs to a long oral tradition, the nine singers of the vocal ensemble Balaguèra dedicate themselves to the Pyrenean interpretation of the polyphonies of Gascogne. All songs are performed unaccompanied.
Yedid Nefesh - Amant de mon âme - Trio Harel
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-511)
The Judeo-Spanish repertory is one of richest and oldest of the Jewish musical inheritance. Sung in Hebrew, Araméen, Judeo-Spanish or Arabic, these poems and songs offer a call for reconciliation. Meirav Ben David-Harel (voice, percussion, chifonie), Yaïr Harel (voice and percussion), Nima Ben David (viola de gambe) with Michèle Claude (percussions).
All'Improvviso - Christina Pluhar and L'Arpeggiata
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-512)
Working with sources from 17th century chaconnes to new compositions by artists like Lucilla Galeazzi, baroque harpist Christina Pluhar and her ensemble L'Arpeggiata offer an imaginative look at improvisation, joined by actor-singer Marco Beasley, vocalist Lucilla Galleazzi and jazz clarinetist Gianluigi Trovesi in traditional baroque grounds that demolishes conventional notions of 'crossover' music. With Gianluigi Trovesi, Marco Beasley, and Lucilla Galeazzi.
Son de los diablos - Tonadas afro-hispanas del Perú - Diana Baroni and Sapukai
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-507)
The record label says 'Far from the stereotypes of pseudo-Peruvians in publicity and the subway, this recording approaches the same sources of Andean music, mixing pre-Colombian music and the contributions of the conquistadores with the music of African slaves brought to the region.' The result is a formal 'art music' approach that finds both the formaility of the composition and the raw energy of the source material.
Guillaume IX d'Aquitaine: Las Cansos del Coms de Peitieus - Brice Duisit
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-505)
Solo performances by Brice Duisit for voice and vièle à archet. These are presented in a spares, open performance, beautifully recorded to reveal both the beauty and the edge of the instrument and the songs.
Jardin de Myrtes: Mélodies andalouses du Moyen-Orient - Michèle Claude and L'ensemble Aromates
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-515)
Arab-Andalousian poems performed by an ensemble of Middle Eastern string instruments fuses modern harmony with twelve traditional Arabic classical muwashsha songs. An eclectic group of singers and instrumentalists trained in a variety of schools, perform on traditional instruments.
Plaisir d'Amour: Chansons and romances de la France d’autrefois - Le Poème Harmonique - Vincent Dumestre
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-513)
The French ensemble explores works from the end of XVIII and the beginning of XIX centuries, marked by a renewed interest in pastoral instruments and popular songs of the period.
Cantigas de Santa Maria - Johannette Zomer and Antequera
$17.99
(cdRoots# alp-501)
The Crusade against the Albigensians (in southern France) forced many musicians to take refuge in Spain. Collected by King Alphonse X, these cantigas are directly inspired by these artists as they adapted to their new situation in Spain. Zomer and the ensemble Antequera have explored these works and give them a unique, semi-formal presentation (classical? early music?) that has life and energy.
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