Album

This album is a sampler of tracks from previous releases by Constantinople, the Canadian early music ensemble that specializes primarily in music from areas surrounding the Mediterranean. Constantinople's sound defies easy pigeonholing, but the effect is thoroughly engaging. The ensemble is notable for the sense of otherness it creates by bringing the insights of Middle Eastern music to the music of Medieval Europe, which leaves the listener pleasantly disoriented—is this European early music or contemporary music of the Middle East? The music is based on Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, but the performances sound entirely spontaneous, as if the members of the ensemble knew each other well enough to improvise without inhibition, with the kind of give and take characteristic of the best jazz ensembles. The performers' exuberance and deep feelings for this music are infectious and tangible. Singers Daniel Taylor, Anne Azéma, Françoise Atlan, and Ghada Shbeir join the ensemble on several tracks, and their soulful performances amplify the wonderful strangeness of the music. Atma's sound is deep and atmospheric without sacrificing clarity. The sampler ought to succeed in encouraging listeners to seek out Constantinople's other albums.

© Stephen Eddins, Rovi

CD 1
Anonymous, Cancionero de Palacio Composer Ya soi desposado, Oy comamos y bebamos Work Constantinople Ensemble
1	Ya soi desposado, Oy comamos y bebamos	6:20			$0.99
Gillebert de Berneville Composer De moi doleros vos chant Work Constantinople Ensemble, Daniel Taylor Vocals
2	De moi doleros vos chant	5:00			$0.99
Anonymous, Manuscrit du Roi Composer La Septime Estampie Real Work Constantinople Ensemble
3	La Septime Estampie Real	5:03			$0.99
Châtelain Couci (de) Composer Li nouveax temps et maiz et violete, for consort, R. 985 Work Anne Azema Vocals, Constantinople Ensemble
4	Li nouveax temps et maiz et violete, for consort, R. 985	6:50			$0.99
Guy Ross Composer Hermins, (instrumental) Work Constantinople Ensemble
5	Hermins, (instrumental)	5:21			$0.99
Sephardic Traditional Composer Hero y Leandro (Salonique) Work Constantinople Ensemble
6	Hero y Leandro (Salonique)	2:47			$0.99
Sephardic Traditional Composer Ven querida (Istanbul) Work Francoise Atlan Vocals, Constantinople Ensemble
7	Ven querida (Istanbul)	2:27			$0.99
Sephardic Traditional Composer Caballero (Istanbul) Work Constantinople Ensemble
8	Caballero (Istanbul)	3:35			$0.99
Sephardic Traditional Composer Hija mía mi querida (Rhodes) Work Constantinople Ensemble
9	Hija mía mi querida (Rhodes)	3:45			$0.99
Sephardic Traditional Composer El regateo de las kosuegras Work Constantinople Ensemble
10	El regateo de las kosuegras	4:00			$0.99
Alfonso X (el Sabio) Composer Cantiga de Santa María 181, Pero que seja a gente d'outra lei [e] descreuda Work L'Ensemble en Chordais et Imane Homsy Qanoun, Constantinople Ensemble, Ghada Shbeir Vocals
11	Cantiga de Santa María 181, Pero que seja a gente d'outra lei [e] descreuda	7:06			$1.49
Dimitrie Cantemir Composer Pesrev in makam Buselik (usul devr-i-revan) Work L'Ensemble en Chordais et Imane Homsy Qanoun, Constantinople Ensemble, Ghada Shbeir Vocals
12	Pesrev in makam Buselik (usul devr-i-revan)	5:05			$0.99