Brio - Romance - Dorian Recordings
This fine
collaboration
might also be called an early example of world
music.
Published
on October 10, 2007
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Brio
- Romance - Dorian Recordings DSL-90708, 49:55 ****:
(Jose Lemos, countertenor; Steve Rosenberg, recorders/Renaissance &
Baroque guitars; Mary Anne Ballard, treble, tenor & bass viola da gamba
and rebec; Danny Mallon, castanets/darbuka, riq, frame drums, shakers,
wood block, agogo bells; Larry Lipkis [guest], viol/recorders/gemshorn)
The Sephardic Jewish culture of early Spain might be considered a very
early example of musical crossover. The Sephardic Jews who lived in Spain
from Roman times until the expulsion of 1492 had their own culture but
soaked up those of their surroundings wherever they were. Cultures from
Europe, North Africa and the Middle East came into Spain and when the
scattering of the Iberian Jews occurred, they mixed their musical culture
with those of their new neighbors. One of their beloved forms was a type
of ballad influenced by the early songs of the medieval troubadours. It
was called the Romance, and this Dorian debut of the quartet
known as Brio concentrates on their exquisite interpretations of this
traditional Sephardic music.
Brio makes use of instruments from the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque
periods as well as culture of the West and Near East. Some of the songs
have a strong Turkish flavor, others sound more thoroughly Spanish. They
are in both in Spanish and in the Ladino Sephardic language. Many have a
strong dance beat. Brazilian countertenor Lemos is one of the leading
Baroque singers, and has performed in productions of such operas as
Monteverdi’s Poppea, Handel’s Giulio Cesare, and Lully’s
Psyche. His unstrained high voice is quite lovely, and I should
admit that I am generally not a fan of countertenors. Complete English
translations are provided of all the songs - thank you Dorian. Sonics are
superb. This fine collaboration might also be called an early example of
world music.
TrackList: You may click on any of the underlined tracks to
hear a sample of our music.
1.
Serena
2. Ya Me Consi
3. El mi quierdo
4. Quien es aquello
5. Esterica
6. Debka
7. Noches, Noches
8. Nimrod
9. Las Estreyas
10. La Rosa
11. A la Una
12. Las Muchachas
13. Adio
14. Durme Durme
15. Los Cominos
16. Van y Vienen
17. Nani Nani
18. Proque llorax
19. Una Tarde
20. Ah El Novio
- John Sunier
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Brio
DSL-90708
Romance
José Lemos,
countertenor
Steve Rosenberg,
recorders, Renaissance and Baroque guitars
Mary Anne Ballard,
treble, tenor, and bass viola da gamba, and rebec
Danny Mallon,
castanets, darbuka, riq (arabic tambourine), frame drums, shakers,
wood block, agogo bells
Larry Lipkis
(guest
artist), viol, recorders, gemshorn
tracks: 8, 10, 14, 15, 17
Producer:
Doug
Brown
Engineering:
Brandie Lane, Daniel Shores
Program notes:
Zachary Wilder
Spanish-Ladino/English translations:
José Lemos
Booklet editor:
Mary
Anne Ballard
Photography:
Nate S
Rhodes
Graphic design:
Jeremy
Zeigler
Brio wishes to thank the
following people for helping with the Spanish and Ladino language for this
recording: Enrique Graf (pronunciation), Rod Quiroz (text and
translations), and Dan Lam (text reconstruction).
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