PROGRAM NOTES FOR DUO SERAPHIM: Lute songs & solos for Advent and Christmastide

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Duo Seraphim: Lute songs and solos for Advent and Christmastide

Veni Emanuel is a deservedly well-known Advent hymn that is found in many modern arrangements. It's text is found in Advent antiphons that predate Charlemagne, and was probably adapted to include the familiar refrain later in the 12th century. Our setting includes a second part, possibly dating from the 13th century, constituting an early example of organum.

There is no rose was once attributed to John Dunstaple. This macaronic (English/Latin) three-part Marian carol is from an early 15th century manuscript of carols, now in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge. Our performance assigns the lower voices to the lute.

The Angel Gabriel is a Basque carol (Birjina gaztettobat zegoen), translated into English by Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) and harmonized in this arrangement by Ron Andrico.

The Ricercar by Francesco da Milano (1497-1543) is taken from the Siena lute manuscript, a late sixteenth-century source for this composer. The introspective and textural piece is a fitting prelude to the Italian laude, Vergine Bella, with poetry by Petrarch and music by the infamous Bartolomeo Tromboncino (c. 1470 – 1535). Our unique version of this moving devotional song is arranged for voice and lute from the original four-part setting by Tromboncino.

The short Fantasia by Francesco da Milano introduces our settings for lute and voice of three seasonal motets by one of our favorite composers, Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611). Ne timeas, Maria, the Magnificat antiphon for the first Sunday in Advent, tenderly describes the Annunciation: the revelation to Mary by the Angel Gabriel that she would conceive a child.

Duo Seraphim, the title track for our CD, is presented as a duet for lutes, each lute playing two parts of this charming antiphonal dialogue between two angels. For this performance, Ron Andrico is joined by the mysterious figure, Orlando Pizzicato, on second lute. Magi viderunt stellam describes the three wise men following the star to offer gifts to the newborn Christ.

Taverner's In nomine is an anonymous lute setting from the late 16th century Marsh manuscript, a large collection of English lute instrumentals. This mediatative polyphonic piece is derived from a mass on the plainchant, Gloria Tibi Trinitas, by John Taverner, circa 1520. The phrase "in nomine Domini" appears in the four-voice Benedictus of the mass, with the plainchant melody in the alto. The uniquely English theme became the basis for instrumental variations and appears in several settings for lute and viols throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence is an Advent hymn that Donna has known and sung for most of her life. The melody is derived from the traditional French carol, 'Picardy', and the communion text is translated into English by Gerard Moultrie (1829-1885). Our unique arrangement and harmonization seems to bear slight differences each time we perform it.

The Ricercar by Marco dall'Aquila (c. 1470-1537) is a gentle piece, unique in that it is a very early example of lute music composed in what was later called the stile brise, a hallmark of French baroque music.

Josef lieber, Josef mein is a macaronic German carol that describes a conversation between Joseph and Mary as they care for their newborn infant. A justly popular carol, our version is based on that of Leonhardt Schroeter, 16th century German composer.

Es ist ein ros entsprungen is a beloved German carol that dates at least to the late-16th century. The melody appears in the Speyer Hymnal (Köln, 1599) and the best known harmonization is by Michael Praetorius, 1609. Our version is our own arrangement.

Entrée cinquiesme is from a 1611 print by the French lutenist and music publisher, Robert Ballard (c.1575-1649).

The Wexford Carol, known in Irish Gaelic as Carúl Loch Garman, is a traditional carol originating from County Wexford, Ireland, and is thought to be as old as the 12th century. Our version is performed a cappella with an anonymous English translation of the text.

The Piva is a shepherd's dance, typically played on a bagpipe. Joan Ambrosio Dalza included a handful of pivas in his 1508 publication for lute, which everyone knows is closely related to the bagpipe.

The Christ child lullaby is a traditional song from the Outer Hebrides, known as Taladh Chriosta in Scots Gaelic.

Auld lang syne is well known as a song of celebration at the turn of the new year, commemorating the year past. The poem was written by Robert Burns in 1788, and the melody is a traditional Scots tune (Roud 6294). Robert Burns sent a copy of the original song to the British Museum with this comment: "The following song, an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man's singing, is enough to recommend any air." (Gavin Grieg: "Last Leaves of Traditional Ballads") Our version is based on the lute setting from the Balcarres lute manuscript, circa 1690.

Program notes ©2008 Ron Andrico & Donna Stewart
All music and arrangements on this disc ©2008 Ron Andrico & Donna Stewart, Mignarda