Despite its sudden appearance, 14th-century Italian Ars Nova fits into a vibrant period of Italian culture, marked by figures like Dante, Giotto, Petrarch, and Boccaccio.
Historical Context
14th-century Italian polyphonic secular music, often called Ars Nova or Trecento music, emerged suddenly and disappeared by the early 15th century, making it an 'island' in music history.
Composition History
Our knowledge of 14th-century Italian polyphony comes from a few manuscripts and fragments, often found in archival bindings, with some requiring digital techniques to read.
Composition History
The Squarcialupi Codex, a large and luxurious manuscript compiled around 1415, contains over 350 compositions, mostly by Florentine musicians, and is a major source for this album.
Performer Biography
The Aquila Altera Early Music Ensemble, founded in 1998, focuses on historically informed performances of early music, including works from Abruzzo codices and medieval/Renaissance composers.
Composer Biography
Francesco Landini, a composer featured on this album, was known as Francesco Cieco (blind) because he lost his sight due to a childhood illness.
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