The Cape Verdean singer was the preeminent force of morna music, which combines fado, jazz, and Latin.
The three women that make up the early music ensemble Sinfonye tap into some of medieval France’s more lively and entertaining repertoire in this generously filled program of 13th-century songs and motets. Not surprisingly for performances of music from this period, the singers have assumed a certain interpretive license, not only in terms of the specifics of the vocal lines but also regarding accompaniments, which include the delightfully reedy sounds of hurdy-gurdy and medieval fiddle. In some cases, they begin with a piece in its more formal written form–a motet–and extract what probably was the original melody that inspired it.
The crusaders' dilemma is clearly exemplified in the song Seigneur, saichies by Thibaut de Champagne. "He who does not leave at once for the land where Christ loved and died, and takes the cross … will hardly go to paradise" and yet in the words of another song by Thibaut "God, why did you create foreign countries? It has parted many lovers who have lost comfort of love and forgotten its joy." There was, though, a joy greater than this: "It is good to be God's servant, and not to be touched by danger or chance; Serve well and be rewarded well." (Conon de Bethune). It is still, even at a distance of 800 years very touching to read these words and to hear these songs; they retain a strong quality, which, in these performances, is captured very well.
Adam de la Halle (c. 1237 - 1288) was one of the first composers to receive the honour of having manuscripts copied comprising his complete works, surely indicative of the esteem in which he was held. De la Halle moved between two worlds as the music of the courts of the nobility was moving out into the aspiring merchant classes of the cities.
His songs of courtly love are characterised by, to use his own phrase, "mal joli", or delightful woe.
For their debut recording, the Flash Ensemble presents the largely undiscovered works of Hungarian composer Laszlo Lajtha (1892-1963), including the world premiere recording of String Trio No 2, Op 18, from 1932.