Amor Vincit Omnia - Medieval Love Songs

Regina Kabis, soprano; Ensemble a chantar

Martin Codax (Spain, 13th c.): Cantigas d'amigo Comtessa de Dia (c1200): A chantar m'er de so q'ieu no volria, Ab joi et ab joven m'apais - Oswald von Wolkenstein (c1377-1445): Keuschlich geboren; Ave, mater, o Maria; Treib her, treib überher - Anonymous (Italy, 14th c., Codex Rossi): Amor mi fa cantar a la francescha; Lucente stella, Che ti zova nasconder - et al.

Medieval poets took the famous words by Virgil "Omnia vincit Amor" as their motto for an entire literary era: "Amor vincit omnia" (Amor/Love conquers all). This aphorism shaped the character of Western lyrical poetry right back to the time of the Troubadours who began to travel between different courts in the South of France with their art-form which subsequently became established in the German-speaking world as "minnesong". The subject of love on a variety of levels runs through the entire CD as a common theme: courtly love in the chansons by the Countess Beatritz of Diá and the monophonic Italian songs of the Codex Rossi, the adoration of the Virgin Mary in works by Oswald von Wolkenstein, and with a particular local atmosphere in the Cantigas d'amigo of the trobador Martin Codax.
His famous chansons can be discovered in numerous different recordings. But instead of merely performing each song one after another, the Ensemble a chantar links up the individual pieces
with sections instrumental interludes to span an arc encompassing the complete cycle. This transforms the Cantigas d'amigo from a mere collection of seven songs to a single unified entity.
The missing melody of the sixth Cantiga has been replaced here by a new composition.

Price: $27.98

In stock
ships in 3 to 5 days