Among the dozens of recordings that include selections from the 13th-century collection of songs and poems known as the Cantigas de Santa Maria, this is one of the best in terms of the singers, choices of instruments, rhythmic disposition, and sound. And it may be the most adventurous in its exploitation of the particular rhythms and in the way instruments–particularly percussion–are used. On most of the songs the performers opt for a sensuous, undulating rhythm, incorporating an easy, flowing melodic style whose expression draws from Northern African/Mediterranean mannerisms that reflect the prevalence of those cultures in 13th-century Spain. Sung in Alfonso’s original Gallego-Portuguese (two women and two men in different configurations) and accompanied by various period instruments–including strings (oud, vièle, crwth) and drums (zarb and udu)–there’s a pleasing compatibility to the sounds and cohesiveness to the combinations of timbres. The voices are all engaging and comfortable in the style they’ve chosen. My only reservation is the several instances where the percussion literally takes over with significant, obtrusive force (tracks 5 and 7, for instance)–it’s certainly exciting, but seems out of context and insensitive to the singer. One more thing–the texts are given in Portuguese and French only, a mistake given the recording’s distribution in an international market. [6/29/2005]
