Search - Spanish Anonymous, Juan Aranes, Manuel Cardoso :: Los Ministriles: Spanish Renaissance Wind Music

Renaissance Music is Anything but Boring!

Thomas B Dawkins | 03/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I will admit an immediate bias for this recording, as my Renaissance Music instructor's husband is one of the players. However, leaving that fact out entirely, this disc, like all of Piffaro's recordings, is a joy. I listen to them everywhere, especially when I need to stay awake on long drives. To hear such difficult ensemble instruments as shawms, krumhorns and recorders in a resonant environment, played perfectly in tune is rare. This particular disc ranges from organ-like works for recorder consort to rousing dances like ¡Si abrá in este baldres! Unlike CDs that contain lengthy masses with no lighter interludes (although these are equally gorgeous, especially the Gabrielli Consort's Moralès Mass for the Feast of St. Isidore), Piffaro's CDs are widely varied in terms of instrumentation, style, tempo and inflection. I have played this for many people who claim to not like early music and have had much favorable response, not to mention the personal enjoyment and sheer fun!"

Pifarro's Best Album!

Charles Richards | Los Angeles, CA | 07/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although Pifarro has released some wonderful stuff in the past couple of years, "Los Ministriles" is still, in my opinion, their best offering to date. Simply, this recording is a delight, and although I've heard it dozens of times, it always remains fresh and enjoyable upon each re-aquaintance. There is something about music from the Spanish renaissance that sets it apart from almost anything being written in Europe at the time, and Pifarro captures the fun, spontanaity and pure beauty that this music exudes from note one. Highly recommended."

Fun music

Gary W. Shanafelt | Abilene, TX | 11/20/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Much of this CD is typical Renaissance music with period instruments: a delight to listen to, but sounding a lot like other Renaissance delights. What I found really unique is that this is the first selection of Renaissance music which I'm familiar with that includes bagpipes among the instuments. Crumhorns and sackbuts are nice but familiar; the bagpipe selections blew me away."