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Gavin Bryars: Oi Me Lasso
Gavin Bryars, Anna Maria Friman, John Potter
Gavin Bryars: Oi Me Lasso
Genres: Pop, Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #1

'Oi Me Lasso' is representative of a series of Gavin Bryars works inspired by the unaccompanied laudes (songs of praise to the Virgin Mary) popular in the later Middle Ages, particularly the 14th century collection known a...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Gavin Bryars, Anna Maria Friman, John Potter
Title: Gavin Bryars: Oi Me Lasso
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Gavin Bryars
Release Date: 4/12/2005
Album Type: Import
Genres: Pop, Classical
Styles: Vocal Pop, Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 723721104450, 5024545338027

Synopsis

Album Description
'Oi Me Lasso' is representative of a series of Gavin Bryars works inspired by the unaccompanied laudes (songs of praise to the Virgin Mary) popular in the later Middle Ages, particularly the 14th century collection known as Laudes Cortonese. The laudesi who originally sang the laudes banded together in confraternities but were not usually associated with any particular church, and this music was not part of any liturgy. Composing some 50 of these modern interpretations of the laudes has become an ongoing project for Bryars, slipped in between other projects he is working on. Each lauda is dedicated to the performer(s) for whom it was written, always including soprano Anna Maria Friman. Anna Maria Friman is a member of the spectacularly successful Norwegian early music group Trio Medieval and she has made numerous solo appearances with important early and new music groups. John Potter was a member of the Hilliard Ensemble from 1984 to 2001 and was the founder of the early music group Red Byrd.

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CD Reviews

IF NOT FOR BRYARS
Kerry Leimer | Makawao, Hawaii United States | 08/15/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Throughout Bryars' work -- from the conceptually driven pieces like "The Sinking of the Titanic" to the sacred works such as this -- there is always a sense of profound care and delicacy. With "Oi Me Lasso" Bryars has effectively brought the tranquility of Medieval Lauds within range of 21st century hearing.



If the sometimes overly homogenous tonality of plainchant and early music seem a bit shallow to your ears, "Oi Me Lasso" is an excellent way to hear the profound change in shading and depth that can be achieved by an appropriately more sophisticated sonic palette. Working strictly within the constraints of the form, Bryars creates more compelling settings without overtly disturbing the reflective nature of the traditional forms he utilizes -- or repurposes -- for these compositions. Bryars also plays on these recordings, but the weight of the performances belong to John Potter, a founder of Red Byrd, (an ensemble that has released some remarkable recordings, though much more aggressive in performance and interpretation than the music you'll find here) and Maria Friman of the already well-known Trio Medieval, each contributing work that is both restrained and beautiful.



"Oi Me Lasso" is a remarkable accomplishment, achieving a balance rich in both tradition and innovation."