Medieval Women’s Choir: Musica Nova

Marian Seibert, soprano
Erin Calata, mezzo-soprano
Eric Mentzel, tenor
Kevin Wyatt-Stone, bass
Bill McJohn, harp
Eric Mentzel, director

A showcase of the Medieval Women's Choir soloists and instrumentalists, directed by Eric Mentzel. Music of the Ars Nova, the modernist movement of the 14th century, featuring the exuberant virtuosity of Italy, the sonority and complexity of France, and the emergence of a truly international style.

New developments in musical notation in the early 14th century allowed composers to write music they never could write before. They wasted no time in embracing the complexity and variety that was suddenly available to them, literally referring to their music as an ars nova, or "new art.” Composers in France and Italy were most active in promoting this musical avant-garde, yet their works are strikingly different in style: In Italy, exuberant melodies and virtuosic display were highly prized, while the French tended towards rich sonority and more complex structure. The two currents were expertly joined by composers like Francesco Landini, who espoused an international style where all of these elements are brought into perfect harmony.

About Medieval Women's Choir

http://medievalwomenschoir.org/