Ondas Bidimensionales

Al publicar el presente volumen del Códice de Santa María la Real de las Huelgas, es un deber imperioso agradecer a las monjas de dicho Monasterio cisterciense su admirable y abnegada colaboración. El Códice de las Huelgas es el único manuscrito polifónico medieval que aún se conserva en el lugar de origen y es guardado por la misma orden que lo recopiló e interpretó fervorosamente desde hace siete siglos. Es también el único manuscrito importante que nos queda de la música religiosa medieval castellana y las monjas actuales, sucesoras en cierto modo de aquellas que dieron vida al Códice, accedieron con toda amabilidad y entusiasmo a nuestro deseo de que su presencia de hoy diera vida a los cantos de antaño bajo los mismos techos y con los mismos hábitos que lo hacían sus fieles antecesoras.

Gracias, a ellas, el «planctus» por la muerte de Alfonso VIII de Castilla, el noble fundador del Monasterio, ha resonado de nuevo ante la tumba del rey. Es ésta una página de la Historia de España que las monjas del Císter, dulcemente, casi sin darse cuenta, ibann resucitando siete siglos después, ante el testimonio mudo, pero de oídos bien despiertos, de unos micrófonos instalados en la clausura.

El trabajo de estas admirables monjas ocupa la primera cara de nuestro disco. Ante la imposibilidad de introducir instrumentistas en la clausura, las ejecuciones instrumentales y polifónicas han sido interpretadas por especialistas profesionales. Pero, en honor de las monjas cistercienses de las Huelgas, sólo voces de mujer resuenan en esta grabación, y éstas procuraron impregnarse previamente de la pura religiosidad que el Códice, las monjas y las Huelgas mismas respiran mansamente.

ROBERTO PLA, vol. 5, El Códice de las Huelgas

“This lovely recording succeeds in its goal of transporting the listener back to the lost Iberian world of the 13th century, where a unique culture emerged in the Mediterranean, an amalgamation of Christian, Hebraic and Arabic elements.

David Russell joins Azica Records as releases his latest album of contemporary works written just for him. Classical guitarist David Russell is world renowned for his superb musicianship and inspired artistry, having earned the highest praise from audiences and critics alike. In recognition of his great talent and his international career, he was named a "Fellow of The Royal Academy of Music" in London in 1997. In May 2003 he was bestowed the great honor of being made "adopted son" of Es Migjorn, the town in Minorca where he grew up. Later the town named a street after him, "Avinguda David Russell". David Russell spends his time touring the world, appearing regularly at prestigious halls in main cities, such as New York, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Madrid, Toronto or Rome. Concert-goers everywhere are in awe of his musical genius and inspired by his captivating stage presence. His love of his craft resonates through his flawless and seemingly effortless performance. The attention to detail and provocative lyrical phrasing suggest an innate understanding of what each individual composer was working to achieve, bringing to each piece a sense of adventure.

The disc's subtitle is "13th-century Galician-Portuguese Songs & Dances of Love, Longing, & Devotion". My subtitle is, "this is one of the finest discs of its kind." It fully, often arrestingly captures the essential spirit of these lovely poetic texts and ancient melodies and virtually jumps and dances and vibrantly rings with the kind of life these songs' creators must have felt 800 years ago. If you're new to secular music of this period and place, you will be surprised at its incredible rhythmic energy, catchiness, and complexity. You'll also be captivated by the originality and variety of the melodies–sensuous, infectious, irresistible.