Ludus Danielis

On this CD:

1. Ludus Danielis
Composed by Anonymous
Performed by Estampie - Munchner Ensemble Fur Fruhe Musik with Johann Bengen, Johann Bengen, Anja Gurke, Marie-Katherin Melnitzky, Michael Popp, Michael Popp, Michael Popp, Michael Popp
Conducted by Michael Popp

Tracks:

Ad Honorem Tui
Astra Tementi
Jubilemus Regi Nostro
Cum Doctorum
Vir, Propheta Dei
Hic Verus Dei Famulus
Solvitur In Libro Salomonia
Regis Vasa Referentes
Ecce Rex Darius
Ex Ragali Venit Imperio
Congaudentes Celbramos
Quia Movi Te Callidum
Numquid Dari
Abacuc Tu Senex Pie
Te Ne Putas, Daniel
Merito Haec Patimur
Ecce Venit Sanctus Ille
Nuntium Vobis Fero
Puer Natus Est Nobia

Amazon.com

This performance of The Play of Daniel is the most effective recreation of the sound and spirit, the dramatic essence, of a medieval mystery play ever put on disc. The liturgical drama was an important part of the medieval church's need to keep the people in touch with the great and awesome doctrinal mysteries. It also gave an opportunity for musical expression of a different kind to men and children who normally sang the liturgy in the cathedrals and monastery schools. This play contains some of the most beautiful music found in any medieval source, and it's performed here with exceptional singers--men, women, and children--who achieve a perfect synthesis between the play's dramatic requirements and the music's expressive function. This disc is one of a kind; a treasure, one of the gems of the early music catalog. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

A turning point in the cultural history of the Middle Ages.......2001-05-09

This Opera created in the thirteenth century in a French Cathedral is probably the first ever church opera composed and performed, three centuries before those of the Italian Renaissance.

It is a real jewel. First the voices are clear and extremely refined and to the point in their choice and expressivity. Then the music is a real surprise. The music is both church music, at times, and popular music at other times. This alternation is typical of a certain religious practice in the Middle Ages : the mixing of dense religious and gregorian music, most of the time a capella, and a light, joyful, gay and popular music, closer to dances and to celebrations around a fire on the village square, the music playing along with the singing, than to a psalm or hymn. We can also find some court music when the Queen comes in for instance. And it is not rare to hear some oriental coloration on a couple of pieces, showing the wide array of influences and inspirations collected in this opera.

But the turning point of the opera is the transformation of King Darius into a donkey. This is a direct echo of the common practice, for Christmasd and the New Year, in the Middle Ages of having Feasts of Fools performed in churches and celebrating God and Jesus by putting upside down the normal secular and material power hierarchy, just as Jesus promised that the first one will come last and the last one will come first at doomsday. This was completely accepted by the church, and here a cathedral. This is an essential element in the real deep involvement of the Church in everyday life, in the life of simple people, and at the highest level. It is also a strong and powerful evidence that the Church was able in those days to recuperate or simply use all forms of creativity, here musical creativity, to win people over and to make them feel at home in the Church.

This opera is one essential and beautiful moment in the thirteenth century musical revolution that will lead to and at the same time find momentum in the Avignon Popes. It is the drama of overpopulation at the end of the thirteenth century, and then of the plague known as Black Death, and all the struggles and « heresies » that will come along with those two events that will isolate and break the energy of this cultural revolution.

Tracks:

The Play Of Daniel: Belshazzar's Feast: Incipit
The Play Of Daniel: Belshazzar's Feast: Prosa
The Play Of Daniel: Belshazzar's Feast: Rex Balthasar
The Play Of Daniel: Belshazzar's Feast: Vasa Templorum
The Play Of Daniel: The Writing On The Wall: Mane. Techel. Phares
The Play Of Daniel: The Writing On The Wall: Conducts Regine
The Play Of Daniel: The Writing On The Wall: Regina
The Play Of Daniel: The Writing On The Wall: Danielem querens
The Play Of Daniel: The Writing On The Wall: Conducts Danielis
The Play Of Daniel: The Writing On The Wall: Daniel & Balthasar
The Play Of Daniel: The Writing On The Wall: Solutio
The Play Of Daniel: The Writing On The Wall: Conducts Regine Secundus
The Play Of Daniel: The Writing On The Wall: Conducts referentium uasa
The Play Of Daniel: At The Court Of King Darius: Darius Rex
The Play Of Daniel: At The Court Of King Darius: Principes
The Play Of Daniel: At The Court Of King Darius: Legati
The Play Of Daniel: At The Court Of King Darius: Conductus Danielis: in hoc natalitio
The Play Of Daniel: At The Court Of King Darius: Consilarij emuli
The Play Of Daniel: At The Court Of King Darius: O hez!
The Play Of Daniel: At The Court Of King Darius: Daniel adorabit
The Play Of Daniel: Daniel In The Lions' Den: Emuli & Darius
The Play Of Daniel: Daniel In The Lions' Den: Lamentatio Danielis
The Play Of Daniel: Daniel In The Lions' Den: Ad lacum Leonum
The Play Of Daniel: Daniel In The Lions' Den: Angelus & Abacuc
The Play Of Daniel: Daniel In The Lions' Den: Leones
The Play Of Daniel: Daniel The Prophet: Daniel Propheta
The Play Of Daniel: Daniel The Prophet: Angelus
The Play Of Daniel: Daniel The Prophet: Te Deum

Amazon.com

It's always fun to find a recording that offers adventure and discovery along with its musical performances. Andrew Lawrence-King's Harp Consort not only brings us an important document of a 12th-century masterpiece, but the work's colorful, celebratory, sometimes raucous aspects show how inappropriate the term Dark Ages can be. The Play of Daniel, typically performed in churches following the Christmas feasts, could be called a medieval opera, owing to its cast of characters, its dramatic staging, and its fully sung roles for soloists and chorus. The story is the one about Daniel and the lions, the mysterious handwriting on the wall, and Daniel's ominous prophecy regarding King Balthasar. But its real message is the foretelling of Christ's nativity and the end of earthly kingdoms. The performances are excellent, with period stringed instruments, organ, and percussion joining the voices. Unlike the other fine recording of this work on Hungaroton, this one features improvised vocal polyphony and longer instrumental sections. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Simply Incredible.......2007-04-30

I have heard a number or arrangements for this piece, and this one is far and away the best. It is certainly one of my top three albums in the world. Not only is the story amazing, but the instrumentation is authentically medieval and the soloists have obviously studied Middle Eastern voice technique ( by the way, the voices are stunningly beautiful). You don't get much better than the Andrew Laurence-King Harp Consort, and in my opinion, this is thier capstone work. The album is worth any amount of money.

It is from the 13th century and it is French.......2002-07-29

This church opera is essential because it changes all we know or all we thought we knew about the opera. First the manuscript is dated from 1230 and we can think it probably was performed for the first time at the end of the 12th century. Second it was created by the young clerics of the Beauvais cathedral in France. Third it is a real opera telling us the story of the exiled Daniel in Babylon who is thrown into the lions' pit and survives due to the intervention of God himself through his angels. It is the story of Balthazar, the king who uses jewish vases for an orgy or a banquet and is doomed to fall by God himself. It is the story of Daniel as a seer who can read the messages of God and reveal the fate Balthazar is going to be the victim of. It is the story of Darius who acknowledges Daniel's power and eventually Daniel's God. It is the story of some courtiers who plot Daniel's ruin in order to save and strengthen their power. And the whole opera uses the theme we normally find in a Mass od Fools or Mass of Asses by transforming Darius into an ass when he is manipulated into sending Daniel to the lions'pit. The recording of this opera by Andrew Lawrence-King is great because he really plays the game of an opera that is tragic, dramatic, funny too and he follows the indications he has about the music to make it as varied as possible shifting from a very elaborate and even learned music to popular dances and percussions. It is one of those discoveries that become a new landmark in a whole world of beliefs and universally accepted truths. We have to reconsider completely our knowledge about the history of the opera...

Much better than I thought it would be!.......2001-10-31

I bought this CD because I'm something of a completist for early music. (From chant on up. That's early enough.) I had heard about this piece for quite some time, so naturally I picked it up, not knowing what to expect. It sounded a little dry, "The Play of Daniel." But listen here: it isn't at all. In fact, it's one of my most-favored CDs from the early days. It's alive! It speaks to me! You never know with early music CDs; they're usually a hit-or-miss affair; you like the tenor but not the alto, you like the instrumental tracks more than the singing, whatever. Here I pretty much like every track. I can't wait to listen to this one by a roaring fire at night on my next camping trip. So: full recommendation. Now, on to Perotin.

Average customer rating:

Daniel and the Lions (Ludus Danielis)

Manufacturer: Fone
ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000G5SOY8

Product Description

'Ludus Danielis' is part of the Christmas cycle of liturgical dramas first realized in the 12th century.~~~(1) 1. Quarte estampie real~~2. Deuxieme dance~~3. La terche estampie real~~4. L'autrier m'iere levar~~5. La quinte estampie real~~6. Estampie 'Daniel'~~~(2) Entry of Belshazzar's court~~~(3) Entry of Belshazzar's queen~~~(4) Entry of Daniel~~~(5) Exit of Belshazzar's queen and the court~~~(6) Interlude: Belshazzar's lament~~~(7) Entry of Darius' court~~~(8) Presentation of Daniel~~~(9) Daniel's accusers~~~(10) Daniel is thrown to the Lions~~~(11) Visitation of the angel~~~(12) Daniel's salvation and prophesy~~~(13) Te deum.

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