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Pushing boundaries
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Want to take a peek into the music of the Middle Ages? Get hold of the album The Renaissance Begins, says Allan Moses R.
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Photo: Murali Kumar K.
EXTRAVAGANZA Handpicked songs from diverse backgrounds and composers
Bringing to the city a blast from the past, Madrigals, Etc launched their debut album recently at The Alliance Française de Bangalore. Titled ‘The Renaissance Begins’, the album is a rare glimpse of the musical world of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Madrigals, Etc also have something to cheer about as this is the first-ever Renaissance music album in India, perhaps even the first pure western classical music album. Director Neecia Majolly proudly announced: “This launch is a milestone and will go a long way in conveying our sentiments of music.”
The album was released by Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson, former Chief of Naval Staff, who said that the launch was a historical event and a revival of art. “This is a stepping stone for good things in the future by a small group of dedicated professionals. We wish them the very best in their endeavours,” he said.
Formed in 1999 by Neecia Majolly and George Kurian, this 10-year-old choral and instrumental ensemble has being catering music from this glorious period in performances across the country and garnered numerous accolades for themselves.
An annual participant in the Glorious Festival of Harmony, Madrigals, Etc is a virtuoso extravaganza that expertly renders the varying moods, textures and tempos of the Renaissance era.
Led by the Soprano voice of Neecia Majolly, Madrigals, Etc currently comprises Carola Winnie singing alto, Jonas Olsson singing countertenor and tenor, Charan Raj singing tenor and Anit Kurian singing bass. Mohan Krishnan is the guest artiste on the classical guitar.
Heralding the release, Madrigals, Etc delivered a set of their favourite compositions from their album towards the end of the programme.
“The album comprises 20 carefully handpicked songs that come from diverse backgrounds and composers and yet carry the personality of this rare and beautiful genre of music,” said Majolly excitedly.
The intermediary period between the Medieval and Baroque periods of early European art music - the Renaissance era ranged from 1300 to 1600 A.D. and was a time of rebirth and rediscovery of the antique in visual arts and literature. A transition from Gothic music, this genus ushered in a new style of music with measure and cadenced complexity. The epoch though dominated by prolifically composed vocal music also saw the rise of instrumental music in the horizon.
The album, sung in Latin, Italian, old French and English, presents a range of compositions in a conglomeration of ancient Greek modes and major-minor tonalities. Chosen across several European countries and an array of styles, the album brings the compositions of Thomas Tallis, John Dowland, Guilaume de Machaut and Claudio Monteverdi among others into a prodigious collection.
“Major components of our music are Madrigals and motels, Ayres and so on; hence the name Madrigals, Etc to incorporate the music of that period to symbolise our identity,” added Majolly.
Madrigals are polyphonic compositions which are textures of two or more independent melodic voices, and were the most important secular form of music of their time. Similar to madrigals, motets are sacred, solemn compositions that had independent melodic treatment and contrapuntal development. Ayres are solo songs where the top part of a madrigal is sung while the remaining parts are played by a lute.
Bearing a variety of moods originating from varying texts, the songs are both sacred and secular.
“I owe a lot to my professor, Antony Maydell, who introduced me to this music and whose passion and enthusiasm inspired me to pursue it,” she explained.
“Our biggest goal is to expand our audience and have them enjoy this never before heard music. We definitely intend to take our music to more places, perform as much as possible and inspire more people to support our cause in broadening our music’s boundaries,” emphasised Majolly.
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