Milk and Honey

The songs chosen for this programme all belong to a new direction in Christian devotion of the middle ages - a joyous new song. This nova cantica coincided with the increasing significance of Mary, mother of Christ, which reached its peak in the 12th century. Poets and composers alike were inspired by these developments, creating pieces in a new and exciting musical and poetical style. The pieces presented in this programme are from the high feasts of the Virgin Mary, Annunciatio to Assumptio, the majority taken from the Christmastide. The immaculate conception of Mary is symbolized by her anointment with honey by the Holy Spirit. Her role as the mother of the Saviour is not only as that of a vessel, but as giver and sustainer of life (milk). Our main sources belong to the rich Aquitanian tradition of the abbey of St. Martial de Limoges, supplemented by manuscripts from Norman Sicily and England.
Music from this programme has been issued as a CD in RAUMKLANG (2005).