Tracing Missing Links

Several ensembles have recently been investigating the common heritage from medieval times of music around the Mediterranean; from Gregorian chant and early Christian church music, the troubadours of southern France, the Arabic influences of Al-Andalus in Spain and the music of the middle east proper to Sephardic Jewish contributions. I have already posted about some of these and one of the most impressive is the Nour Ensemble and this exceptional disk, Alba. The core of the ensemble originates from Iran and the influence here is of classical Persian music and Kurdish folk music. But vocalists have joined from Europe to portray also the links with Gregorian plainsong and Spanish cantigas. It is fascinating to contrast the pure modal vocal lines from the European side with the more embellished and melismatic Iranian style. The instrumental contrasts are no less vivid, the oud and dazzling percussion interweaving with tin whistle like sounds and often using clearly western melodies as a jumping off point for improvisations. Another attraction of the disk is the quality of the recording, made in the wonderful acoustic of the Ardeshir Babakan Castle in Iran. The disk is lavishly packaged in a booklet that is informative and beautifully illustrated.