Search - Philip Pickett, New London Consort :: Carmina Burana, Vol. 1 New London Consort Philip Pickett

Most listeners who have heard of Carmina Burana are familiar with the large- scale stage work by 20th-century composer and educator Carl Orff. The adapted texts and newly composed music of that masterpiece speak more to the values of modern orchestras and concert halls than to the concerns of medieval life expressed in the original Bavarian monastery manuscript. The real collection contains hundreds of poems, but very little music, and what exists is frustratingly inconclusive as to note values and even pitch. But many sources of medieval songs can be used to "reconstruct" the music. Whatever we have is by definition a "best-guess." On this recording and its subsequent volumes we have a very satisfying and entertaining "best guess"--the most complete and authoritative among several versions, performed by some of the most respected early music specialists. --David Vernier