Testament: Archangels' Banquet / Shepherds' Delight

Price: £23.87 inc. VAT (£20.76 ex. VAT)

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Number of CDs: 2

Release Date: 01-09-2000

Label: Celestial Harmonies

Catalog Number: 14197-2

Barcode: 13711419726

Musical Style: Medieval / Christmas

Description:

The music on these two compact disks is concerned with connective aspects of angels (the celestial), shepherds (the terrestrial), and dancing circles (in the structures and arrangements of music and poetry, in dance formations, and so on) in an attempt to attain, in sound, Plato's full bloom of joyfulness', as a formal declaration of the divine inspiration with which God has blessed our creative efforts. Many of the 33 tracks, but by no means all, refer specifically or obliquely to the angelically announced birth of Jesus Christ, divine prophet/son of God made man. What they all share is a structural reference to the circle - the magical/mystical formulation for celestial and terrestrial dance, the halo, the garland, the manifestation of God, the wheel (in the hierarchical order of divine beings), and so on. These circular manfestation are therefore metaphors for the divine inspiration to which this collection attests. This is thus a testament, a solemn declaration, of the indebtedness of shepherds to archangels, God's messengers and bearers of creative gifts, metamorphosed as a balanced, spiritual blend of the sacred and the secular, the religious and the proface, via game playing, convivial hospitality, and zig-zagging connections of opposites and likes. It has been important to us in 2000 to offer this testament as an affirmation of hope, for we have lived in what Robert Manne (Professor of Politics, Latrobe University, Melbourne) describes as 'The most politically barbarous century of which history has record, (even though) it has been a time of unparalleled scientific, technological and economic accomplishment, where millions of humans, at least in the most prosperous parts of the world, came to live at a level of material comfort beyond the dreams of kings in previous times.' Testament is a small gesture against scientific, technological and economic 'advances' as a reminder of what the human imagination has been able to accomplish in the past and continues to do so untrammelled by 'advances' in a simple creative environment of hope and belief. the artists The Renaissance Players is the longest standing professional Early Music ensemble in Australia. Founded in 1967 by Winsome Evans, the ensemble is well–known for its varied and imaginative concert programs which are presented in costume and enlivened by poetry, mime, dance and processions. They perform a wide range of music dating from the 9th century through contemporary folk and classical styles, using replicas of, and/or ethnically, authentic instruments where possible and attempting to reproduce performance styles appropriate to whatever music is played. The Renaissance Players have a library of over 2,500 pieces, which have all been collected, arranged and/or composed by Winsome Evans. Director of the Renaissance Players, Winsome is also the producer of the four–volume edition entitled The Sephardic Experience. Aside from the performance and dance schedule of the Renaissance Players, she teaches music at the University of Sydney and is one of Australia's busiest harpsichordists. She has mastered an additional 25 wind, string, percussion and keyboard instruments. Professor Donald Peart, foundation Head of Music in the University of Sydney, and his successor Emeritus Professor Sir Peter Platt, are the patrons, or spiritual and intellectual guardians of the Renaissance Players.'

Biography:

Winsome Evans is an Associate Professor in the Music Department at the University of Sydney, Australia, where she lectures in a broad spectrum of music history, composition and peformance courses. These cover Western classical, traditional and popular styles which range from the early-mediæval period through to the present day. The basic underpinning to every area of her lectures is an informed, research-based focus on historical practices. Her teaching in various styles of mediæval, renaissance and, particularly, baroque historical performance practice and research has been seminal in developing the skills of outstanding student musicians, many of whom have taken up careers in early music, locally and internationally.

Her teaching is complimented and enhanced by her own performance, composition and research activities with the ensembles which she both directs and performs with, such as The Renaissance Players (Australia's first and longest-standing early music ensemble), Sydney Baroque, Baroque Guild, Young Opera and The Beggar's Opera. In the first of these, she has performed on over 30 instruments, as well as arranging and/or composing over 2,500 items since its inception in 1966/67.

In 1980 - for her services to music - Winsome Evans was awarded the British Empire Medal (B.E.M.) in the Queen's Honours List, as well as the New South Wales Jaycee's Award; and, in 1985, the Order of Australia Medal (O.A.M.). Winsome Evans's other works on Celestial Harmonies, recorded with The Renaissance Players, are Of Numbers and Miracles: Selected Cantigas de Santa Maria (13091-2), The Sephardic Experience, Vols. 1-4 (19911-2) and Testament: Archangels' Banquet/Shepherds' Delight (14197-2).

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