Song of Beasts. Fantastic Creatures in Medieval Songs

Featuring

Agnieszka Budzińska-Bennett
Jane Achtman
Marc Lewon
Ensemble Dragma
Johannes Ciconia
Anonymous

Paolo da Firenze
Jacopo da Bologna
Francesco Landini
Giovanni da Firenze
Guillaume de Machaut
Donato da Firenze
Trebor

Did you know?

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Instruments

Marc Lewon's plectrum lute was made in 2001 by Stephen Gottlieb and is based on a painting by Gerard David.

Recording & Production

This recording was made in April 2019 at St.-Nikolaus-Kirche, Herznach, Switzerland, with artistic direction, recording, mastering, and executive production by Rainer Arndt.

Instruments

The vielle played by Jane Achtman on this recording was made in 2000 by Robert Foster and is based on a painting by Andrea da Firenze from 1365.

Historical Context

The descriptions of creatures in medieval bestiaries originated from Greek mythology and Roman literature, including works like the Physiologus and those of Pliny the Elder.

Album & Artwork

This album, "Song of Beasts," is accompanied by a full-length film that features animated illuminations from over forty medieval bestiaries.

Compositional Technique

The classic Italian madrigal form, featured in pieces by Paolo da Firenze and Jacopo da Bologna, consists of two or more tercets and a ritornello in a contrasting meter.

Historical Context

Medieval bestiaries were illuminated encyclopedias devoted to animals, both real and imaginary, often including symbolic, moral, and theological insights.