There are many way to investigate the topic of pilgrimage and the arts, and there are numerous websites dealing with the various works. I shall post at least two and perhaps three blog entries, beginning with this one on music.
Music:
The Codex Calixtinus housed in the Library of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is a fascinating compendium from the middle ages, a collection of theological texts, a music book, and what is arguably the first travel guide wver written in Western Europe about which we shall have alittle more to say in session VII on the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. We shall listen to a little of the music from the Codex in Session VI, and there is a good website from Vanderbilt University's Music Department on the Codex
Naxos, one of the most successful and innovative publishers of classical music, has a number of CDs with pilgrimage music including a fine recording " The Black Madonna: Pilgrim Songs from the Monastery of Montserrat" based on the Llibre Vermell housed at the Catalan abbey and a collection of pilgrimage music from the route to Jerusalem "On the Way to Bethlehem (Music of the Medieval Pilgrim)." We shall listen to short excerpts from both of those recordings.
Considered the preeminent interpreters of early music, the Catalan musicians Jordi Savall (conductor, violist and master of several other instruments) and his wife the soprano Montserrat Figueras have individually and together with their groups including Cappella Reail de Catalunya and Hesperion XXI an unmatched discography. Several of their recordings relate to pilgrimage music, and most of their work is on CDs issued by Alia Vox.
A traditional recording of music from the Codex Calixtinus by the male Ensemble Organum "Compostela ad Vesperas Sancto Iacobi" gives a sense of what it must have been like to hear the music of pilgrimage in one of the great cathedrals or Abbey churches of the Middle Ages. The recording is available from Ambroisie (do not have a website address). The fantastic group has also recorded albums of music from the Church at Rome.
While most music related to pilgrimage was written for and performed by men, several female groups have issued stunning recordings. The now disbanded American quartet Anonymous 4 issued "Miracles of Sant'Iago: Medieval Chant and Polyphony from the Codex Calixtinus"available from Harmonia Mundi. The French choral group Ensemble Discantus issued "Compostelle: Le Chant de l'Etoile" one of my favorite recordings and available from Jade. (I had some difficulty pulling up the website).
Pilgrims came from all over Europe, and a German recording of considerable interest is by the group Ensemble für Fruhe Musik Augsburg "Auf Jakobs Wegen: Medieval Pilgrimage to Santiago" (The website is only available in German).
Various other groups from Spain, France and elsewhere have issued recordings of pilgrimage music. A Microsoft, Yahoo or Google search using words like Compostela, Santiago, and pilgrimage along with "music" will yield a large number of hits. If I can find time toward the end of our term, I will post a column I wrote some time ago and update my recommendations for pilgrimage music,
When Tower went out of business, the best stocked local supplier of such recordings disappeared, but Melody Records just off Dupont Circle in DC is a good place to shop, and they will special order titles not in stock. They are the only reliable supplier of classical music in the DC area I have been able ot locate. (Please do not buy from Amazon--they are quickly driving all of the good book and record stores in the US out of business! Support local merchants like Melody when possible.)
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