Programmi

La Malmaritata
French Folksongs of the 15th century
These Folk songs deal with the theme of lovers betrayed, those in feverish attendance of amorous trysts, youths who unashamedly proclaim their erotic desires and the “Maumarièe”, the “badly wed” with their burdens of regrets but also their sharp irony. These songs hold “exquisite pieces of innocent grace, of delicate sentiment, fine, featherlight poetry, and above all, they possess untold charm (….) of sentiment and memory, which escape precise analysis and comprehension” as Gordon Paris commented. “Trop penser me font amours dormir ne puis / Si je ne voy mes amours toutes les nuytz” writes one of the anonymous poets about these songs. Who can admit to never having had a sleepless night for the sake of love?

Jehan de Lescurel: “A une dame…”
The love songs of a genius
Jehan de Lescurel, a virtually unknown genius of the 13th century, bequeathed us the most splendid songs of love. Unfortunately, much of his work has been lost due to a biographical event, which is more than unsettling: Lescurel was hanged in 1304, having been involved in a turbid story of illicit love affairs. What remains of his work testifies to an artistic personality of absolute prominence. He was a forerunner of musical styles, which would be affirmed one hundred years later. De Lescurel was capable of extraordinary melodic inventions and was also an able handler of sensual Arabic rhythms.

Perfidious Woman, Sweet Friend…
Music and poetry for the Medieval woman in Europe and the Orient
A poetic journey among the lyrics and music of the Arab, Persian and European Medieval times about the metamorphosis of the feminine role: saint and sinner, angel and witch, lady and milkmaid, in the discovery of unknown literature and lost melodies. The literary co-ordination is by Francesco Stella, who writes: “The image we wished to give to this edition favours two essential conditions regarding Medieval culture: first of all, the musical dimension, which was a natural constant in ancient poetry. The recovery of this element of perception has, for years, been the cipher, which distinguishes the poetical-vocal works by Rosario Lo Russo and which, in this case, is realized through the interaction between the philological poetical and musical research of the Anima Mundi Consort. The second aspect is the recovery of the multicultural dimension, which the romantic idea of the Middle Ages as a phase in the managing of nations, has obscured for a long time, and which is only being rediscovered today.

Sacred Dance
Liturgical Dance of the Christian Middle Ages

Anima Mundi performs Sacred Music of rare fascination, from the Orient to the West, and from folk tradition to cultured writings, mostly dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The ensemble pays particular attention to the many different characteristics which make it unique: primarily, the fact of often having been the music which accompanied the ancient dances practised in the first Christian cults and which is now lost to us.

A ogni sera si stromenta a dança!
Italian Medieval Instrumental Dances for “grand orchestra”
This title is taken from the letter of an anonymous person of Pistoia sent to Piero di Basino de’ Medici, dated 1439, who was enthusiastic about the Florentine celebrations: the nobleman will have certainly listened to and danced to some of the pieces which the Anima Mundi Consort proposes in their programme! This version of the repertory of Medieval instrumental dances, refer to those of Italian origin and will invite the appreciation of all the varieties of timbre of a truly “Medieval Orchestra”. The Anima Mundi Consort has, in fact, employed almost all the instruments in use during the period, often built by the musicians themselves. This programme has been awarded the prestigious CHOC DU MONDE DE LA MUSIQUE prize and has been recorded by Tactus in CD form (see discography page).

Le Roman de Fauvel
Or rather “The aberration of Power”

Someone said that the sleep of Reason brings monsters. Well, Fauvel, the protagonist of our concert-story, written at the beginning of the 14th century, is just that. He is half man and half donkey and the Fortune of Reason decides to crown him King. It is worth noting that the author believes it possible for a man-donkey to achieve power in the presence of two contributing factors: Fortune is on his side and Reason is momentarily blurred. A series of surprising allegories begin relating to our present epoch from a text written over 600 years ago...

Florebat olim studium
The passions of goliardic youth in Carmina Burana
A selection of one of the most famous medieval codes, rich in passion, sensuality and love life and for women, written by cultured men of the church, innovators of poetical-musical style and of the morals of their time, but at the same time guardians, aware of the heritage of classical culture, who were powerful censors of every abuse of power and corruption. In Carmina Burana we discover a new Middle Ages which is far from the banalities of everyday, where colours are stronger and the women make proffers of love.