How to read Ronsard today? Simply aloud or in singing it, like back then. Because, for Ronsard, nothing is more obvious than to unite music and poetry: “I also want you to encourage you to pronounce your verses loudly in your room, when you do them, or sooner sing them, whatever voice can have. » Ronsard, Abbrégé de l’Art poétique françois, 1565 As soon as the collection of Loves was published, it was fashionable for a composer to set these poems to music. To quote the most famous: Goudimel, Certon, and of course Janequin. But long after death of the poet, many composers have continued to do so: Bizet, Saint-Saëns, Ravel, Poulenc… It is because Ronsard’s texts have no no age; Pick the roses of life today is a principle immortal. Julien Joubert reads poetry every day, aloud and even the most often while singing. It was therefore only natural that he lean on the work by Ronsard.
The eighteenth century is probably the most extraordinary period of transformation Europe has known since antiquity. Political upheavals kept pace with the innumerable inventions and discoveries of the age; every sector of the arts and of intellectual and material life was turned upside down. Between the end of the reign of Louis XIV and the revolution of 1789, music in its turn underwent a radical mutation that struck at the very heart of a well-established musical language. In this domain too, we are all children of the Age of Enlightenment: our conception of music and the way we ‘consume’ it still follows in many respects the agenda set by the eighteenth century. And it is not entirely by chance that harmonia mundi has chosen to offer you in 2011 a survey of this musical revolution which, without claiming to be exhaustive, will enable you to grasp the principal outlines of musical creation between the twilight of the Baroque and the dawn of Romanticism.
Vocalion's 2013 reissue of two superb albums from the early 1980s by French orchestra leader Paul Mauriat. "Roma Dalla Finestra" is in fact the score Paul wrote - with Gerard Gambus - for the Japanese film of the same name. Remastered from the original stereo tapes for Vocalion's trademark crystal-clear sound quality. French composer/conductor Paul Mauriat is a classically trained musician who decided to pursue a career in popular music. His first major success came in 1962, as a co-writer of the European hit "Chariot." In 1963, the song was given English lyrics, renamed "I Will Follow Him," and became a number one American hit for Little Peggy March. Mauriat is best remembered for his 1968 worldwide smash "Love Is Blue."
The Sensual Mood Music label's Coffee Bar Lounge series of collections invariably and effortlessly creates a cozy atmosphere for relaxation. It is recommended both for minutes of a coffee break or a summer picnic, and as background music for creative personalities in their good undertakings.
This is avantgarde by its highest rank - not that all of it sounds perfect. Dubuffet is a stunning artist covering many areas of interest surreal, so why should 'music' be in any way spared from his weird performing temper? Maybe a typical self-indulgent sound excursion during moments of the 'artist's block', 'Expériences Musicales' still reveals the charm of such free improvisation. As a 'sound painting' of sorts, it serves a suitable 'industrial' template.
2019 will see the 500th commemoration of the death of one of the greatest geniuses humanity has produced: Leonardo da Vinci, scientist, inventor, painter and musician.
Doulce Mémoire, having devoted themselves to Renaissance music for the past 30 years, have decided to pay homage to Leonardo. Their founder-director, Denis Raisin Dadre, an eminent specialist in the music of the period and a great lover of pictorial art, has devised an original programme: Rather than just make music from the time of Leonardo, I've taken my cue from the paintings themselves.I've worked on what could be the hidden music of these pictures, what musical pieces might be suggested by them…
Ce CD précieux rassemble des extraits du texte d'Athalie dits par Lambert Wilson et des extraits de la musique de scène de cette pièce de théatre écrite pour les demoiselles de Saint Cyr de Madame de Maintenon. Musique composée par Jean Baptiste Moreau. Je ne suis, a priori, par un afficionado du ton sec hautain, snob de Lambert Wilson.Le ton est-il l'homme ? Là n'est point, ici, l'essentiel.
Argentinean Dino Saluzzi manages to be a great bandeonist and sound different from great Astor Piazzolla. His music is much closer to new age than to "nuevo tango" invented by Piazzolla and Co, his approach is more "down-to-earth" and "minimalistic" yet still bears an influence on Argentinean music . That's what makes him interesting for me and I love this album in particular because of "chamber sound" if you know what I mean. Like you seat in a big dark room next to a fireplace and the guys are playing for you.
Another stunning set from Harmonia Mundi in their rare 90's boxed editions of music from the Baroque and,as in this case, the Renaissance. Well renowned performers of period music jostle for attention on discs that range from "The Renaissance of the Mass","The Culmination of the Motet" "The Era of Polyphony", "the Golden Age of the Madrigal" to "The Instrumental Art" which features some wonderful Lute performances from Paul O'Dette. Composers include Gesualdo, Josquin Desprez, Claudio Monteverdi as well as many lesser known composers that prove to be very worthwhile discoveries.