The vocal quartet of Anonymous 4 consists of Ruth Cunningham, Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer and Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek. Together, they delve into the songbook of 13th Century France, more specifically the chansons and motets of the period, and deliver the medieval music with gallantry and charm. The themes range from the religious to the secular/romantic, with the pieces in honor of the Virgin Marie in Latin. A few of the pieces such as “A la Clarte Qui Tout” and “J’ai un Curer Trop Lait” feature solo voices, but for the most part the four voices work in a unison that takes you not only to another time and place, but to another dimension. The clarity of these simple yet rich harmonies harken to a form of music that emphasizes beauty, purity and goodness. At a time in Western culture where these qualities are ignored, this disc serves to show that you can go forward by going backward.
Harmonia Mundi