Corou De Berra - Calèna (Buda Records)Corou De Berra - Calèna (Buda Records)
San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble Christmas - Music of Colonial Latin
America: La Noche Buena (World Library Publications, 2005)
Although Corou De Berra of the French Alps has been around for 19 years, has
amassed 8 CDs of traditional repertory and has appeared at numerous music
festivals, I only learned about the choir last summer. Music Director-musician
Michel Bianco leads the 6-member choir made up of professional vocalists. Unlike
many polyphony choirs, Corou De Berra features mixed voices, both men and women
that have dedicated themselves to researching and performing traditional vocal
music of the French Alps and Southern France. But like other polyphony choirs,
they do sing in unison and monody as well as, gracing their performances and
recordings with rich a cappella polyphony. They perform ancient music that is
also a living tradition, meaning even ancient music must adapt to the times in
which we currently reside.
For those who can't spend Christmas in the historic Provence, Calèna,
(means Christmas in the Nice dialect), might just be the ticket. This CD
features sacred singing from the "Audoly Manuscript" and songs ranging from the
Middle Ages to the baroque era. This CD accompanied a show where the choir
performed songs sung in liturgical Latin with the timbre and ornamentation of
singing you would find in the French Alps. Here is a description that came with
the CD, "Calèna is inspired among others by a manuscript from the Alps
Maritimes' valleys, which delivered liturgical Latin singing in the rough; it is
commonly grouped by the name plain chant baroque." Although the songs found
in the manuscript are plain chant, (monody), Corou De Berra superimposed layers
of vocals, often the same melody sung in what I call, layered unison, featuring
the whole spectrum of bass to soprano.
There are also some brilliant solos peppered throughout this CD. Some of this
solo work can be found on Stabat Mater, a devastating chant remarking on Christ'
crucifixion and also Petit Papa Noel which has solo fragments, gorgeous vocals
nonetheless. Lush harmonies can be found throughout, but I especially enjoyed
the vocal work on Nouve Dai Ciripicieu with its robust interlude and rat-a-tat
drums that reminds listeners that Nice was once an Italian city. Ave Marie
features lush ornamented vocals and the final track features traditional and
non-traditional instruments, imagine hurdy-gurdy and saxophone appearing in the
same song. Corou De Berra is an inventive choir in which I will be exploring
further in the future. Polyphony vocal enthusiasts and Francophones might wish
to pick up this unique historical recording. Forget about Christmas present and
take a journey to Christmas past.
Speaking of Christmas past, the San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensemble takes its
listeners back to another crucial historical era, this time taking place in the
Americas. Hailing from the "New World" or the Americas, SAVAE brings us a
multiethnic recording,
Christmas Music of Colonial Latin America, La Noche Buena (The Good
Night). This ambitious project and its 7 musicians explore Christmas music of
African slaves, American Indians and their European colonizers. Medieval
European vocals appear alongside Aztec, Mayan and African percussion. Songs
lyrics reflect various ethnic points of view, but are focused on the Nativity
Story. Not to worry though, this recording is not supporting colonialism, but is
focusing on a unique musical fusion as well as, some of the earliest holiday
music found in the Americas.
"This was an unprecedented time in the history of the world--people from two
hemispheres of the globe who had no previous contact with one another were
suddenly face to face, says Artistic Director and vocalist Christopher Moroney,
"Along with all the brutality, prejudice, injustice and horrors that occurred, a
remarkably unique and flourishing creative musical culture developed. Some of
this now centuries old music is still so fresh and inventive today that it
practically 'jump off' the manuscript pages to any musician who looks at it.
It's important not to overlook this part."
The songs Moroney is referring to were composed between 1570 and 1680 by newly
converted composers as well as, Spanish and Portuguese chapelmasters to
celebrate the Nativity Story; originally performed in New World cathedrals. The
songs that appear on this recording were transcribed from cathedral archives by
Shiela Raney Baird and Robert Stevenson and arranged by Christopher and Covita
Moroney. The Moroney's, a baritone and an alto in the 7-person choir, also
perform several Early Music instruments from Europe, Africa and the New World.
Not uncommon among small Early Music choirs, all the vocalists in this group,
perform double and triple duty. The end result is a gorgeous collection of songs
from a bittersweet period of the New World that features Aztec and African
percussion, as well as, organ and soprano recorders of Europe.
It's difficult to single out a couple of tracks to represent in this review, but
the polyphonic Conception of the Virgin Mary (English spelling) and En Un
Portalejo Pobre (in the humble manger) are both angelic songs and enough to send
shivers up listeners' spines. Anyone who listens to La Noche Buena is going to
wonder why they didn't have holiday music like this when they were children? The
music here straddles both the academic and spiritual worlds, while never losing
sight of a human need to listen to beautiful, heartfelt music.
Compliments of Cranky Crow World Music
Reviews by Patty-Lynne Herlevi
World Music Central
http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php/20051207132427164