The Lauda, a musical-poetic genre first developed by Saint Francis of Assisi, is historically the oldest, and remains one of the most remarkable expressions, of Italian popular musical culture from the Middle Ages to our day.

In this double CD set, La Reverdie presents a rich and varied anthology of Italian monophonic Laude from the two principal sources of this repertoire: the manuscripts of Cortona (ca. 1270) and Florence (ca. 1320), centred on the main themes common to both: the cult of the Virgin Mary and the devotion of the Saints.

Along with recorded performances of many pieces from the Florence manuscript never before recorded, the two CD set includes a presentation booklet with detailed introductory essays illustrating the methods of musicological research involved in the reconstruction of this repertoire, as well as its continuing social, historical, cultural and religious significance, upon which La Reverdie has founded its unique interpretative approach.

Track Listing:
CD 1 – LAUDE DI SANCTA MARIA
A Lauda Vigil in Medieval Italy
1. Venite a Laudare
2. Ave Maria [antiphona]
3. Verbum Patris hodie [motetus]
4. Die ti salvi Regina
5. Voi ch’amate
6. Or piangiamo
7. Dulcis Jesu memoria / Jesu nostra redemptio [motetus]
8. Onne homo
9. Diana stella [instrumental – Doron David Sherwin, 1994]
10. Chi vuol lo mondo
11. Troppo perde ’l tempo
12. Ortorum virentium / Virga Yesse [motetus]
13. Con la madre
14. Ave maris stella [hymnus]
15. Ave Donna sanctissima
16 Assumpta est Maria [antiphona] 2’38
17 Ave Regina gloriosa 6’00

CD 2 – LEGENDA AUREA
Songs in Praise of the Saints in Medieval Italy
1. Facciam laude a tuct’ i Sancti
2. Sia laudato San Francesco
3. San Domenico beato
4. Ciascun ke fede sente
5. Santa Agnese da Dio amata
6. Novel canto [instrumental – Doron David Sherwin, 1997]
7. Laudia’ lli gloriosi martiri valenti
8. Pastor principe beato
9. Magdalena degna da laudare
10. Spiritu Sancto dolçe amore
11. Benedicti e llaudati