The polyphonic repertory that came about around the mid-11th century, which would last over a decade, was mainly found in manuscripts from the south of France, hence they are generically known as "Aquitanian".

Closely associated with Cistercian Marian thought, the present recording presents three types of texts: tropes from Benedicamus Domino such as Patris ingeniti and Castitatis lilium (from the Biblioteca Nacional de Madrid, although of Norman origin) in which one of the ensemble’s most interesting innovations is improvisation in the form of the addition of a third voice.

The second are the strictly liturgical pieces: the responsories Candida virginitas and Gaude Maria virgo, both accompanied by polyphonic prosulae (initially melismas to which texts are added), an efficacious form of embellishment. And then there is the troped reading from the Book of Wisdom with the addition of a second voice in the form of a bourdon.

If there is one typical Aquitanian form, it would have to be the versus, an exceptional expression of the polyphony and monody of this region. The versus is a poetic composition in which a refrain articulates each of the verses containing obvious puns (Res iocosa). Their texture propitiates polyphonic improvisations (Thronus regis instauratur), which are wonderfully performed. Another superb Aquitanian recording to add to those by Sequentia!
JUAN CARLOS ASENSIO

MEL ET LAC
Ensemble Peregrina
Raumklang RK 2501
2005 - 52:02 min.