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The Black Madonna
Pilgrim
Songs from the Monastery of Montserrat
(1400
– 1420)
Composer: Alfonso
X (el Sabio), Llibre
Vermell de Montserrat Anonymous, Trouveres
Anonymous, Roine
Blance, King
of Navarre Thibault IV
Performer: Bernhard
Landauer, Ensemble
Unicorn, Belinda
Sykes
Audio CD (May 26, 1998)
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Naxos
ASIN: B000007N63
Just the title of this
CD, THE BLACK MADONNA Pilgrim Songs from the Monastery of Montserrat
(1400-1420) is timely, given the current interest in Gnostic scriptures, Mary
Magdalene, the Cathars and the Knights Templar.
The image of Montserrat's particular Black Madonna is believed by some to be a
hidden representation of Mary Magdalene, who is supposed to have fled to (what
we now call) France, where she bore the child of her husband/lover Jesus. A few
people (myself included) have formulated a connection between the ancient Egyptian
Mother Goddess Isis, the Gnostic Sophia, the Christian Virgin Mary, and (also
Gnostic) Mary Magdalene. According to the Isis theory, the esoteric color of
The Goddess was black because it represented the mystical mound (pyramid) of
Egypt and the spiritual center of the world. Many people have commented upon
the metaphysical connection between Isis and the Virgin Mary at great length
and detail.
Altered
Images: Was an Egyptian Goddess Transformed into the Virgin Mary
The
Thousand Faces of the Virgin Mary (Zacchaeus Studies: Theology)
Isis
Mary Sophia: Her Mission and Ours
Signs
On The Earth: Deciphering The Message Of Virgin Mary Apparitions, UFO
Encounters, and Crop Circles
The CD includes an informative booklet that mentions the fact that the
Monastery was built over what used to be a Temple of Venus. Venus is a form of
Isis in her role as Hathor, goddess of love, music & dancing. There is also
a connection to Mary Magdalene, the alleged prostitute--and temple prostitution
was a common practice during the Pagan era. It's interesting that music &
dancing continued to be associated with this historically rich site.
Incubation
Or The Cure Of Disease In Pagan Temples And Christian Churches
King
Solomon's Temple and Christianity
This music on this CD is wonderful, performed by the fantastic Ensemble
Unicorn. I've just become musically acquainted with this company and have
become an enthusiastic fan.
The booklet informs us that these and other sacred & quasi-religious songs
were collected by King Alfonso X el Sabio in the hybrid language Galego, a
fusion of Galician and Portuguese. The monarch included some of his own tunes
as well. This 12 selection CD is a sampler of about the 400 various sings &
dances collected--and never fear, the booklet translates the songs.
For people familiar with the CARMINA BURANA by Carl Orf, the subject and
overall sound of the music is very similar. As a matter of fact, Ensemble
Unicorn has its own version of CARMINA BURANA that I prefer over Orf's work. To
be fair, it makes a big difference who directs & performs Orf's BURANA. It
is open to a wide range of interpretation.
Carl
Orff: Carmina Burana
Orff:
Carmina Burana / McNair, Aler, Hagegard; Slatkin
Carmina
Burana
This BLACK MADONNA is a masterpiece performed by masters of the genre. In the
opening and other sections, the music is so accessible that it has a "New
Age" or very contemporary feel. The songs are joyous celebrations of The
Holy Mother & the pilgrims love for her & belief that though her
intercession with Christ she can grant hope for the hopeless and perform
miracles to help people in the daily struggle for existence. The material also
celebrates the pleasure of every day living. There is a pagan quality both in
the prayers and the composition of the sometimes stately, sometimes
rambunctious, percussion.
The vocals are fantastic.
As a side note, this type of music & dance probably did represent residual
memories from the pagan past & the Church couldn't have prevented its
continued appreciation by the people even if it tried to do so. As time went
on, however, the music played in church became ever more elaborate, highly
orchestrated productions. It reached a point where you had to wonder if people
went to church out of religious conviction or just to hear a good concert
and/or dance a jolly jig. When musical performers & instruments began to
take up more space than parishioners, The Church finally interceded & put a
stop to the practice, particularly secular performances.
I've often thought that music appreciation and history should be combined in a sort
of mega-class that would extend from kindergarten through university even
beyond. This particular CD would demonstrate the universal, fun-loving quality
of people throughout the ages--and their simple piety. Music was a source of
strength & renewal for them, as it still is for us today.
Oh yes--check out the price for this gem! It's more than fair, considering the
CD's content & production values; it's almost a freebie.
Codex
Faenza: Instrumental Music of the Early 15th Century
________________________________________________
Review: JEFarrow
Updated 06/08