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Carmina Burana Ensemble Unicorn & Ensemble Oni Wytars (8.554837) Carmina Burana is a fascinating look into the collection of medieval songs and poems from the abbey of Benediktbeuren in Beunen, Bavaria, made famous by Carl Orff's famous cantata of the same title. Dating to the 13th century, the lyrics-composed largely in Latin by wandering monks and clerics-range from songs of moral instruction to raucous drinking tunes to satirical ditties. The musical setting of each poem is drawn from contemporary sources in France and Germany. These sources provided notation to similar minstrel tunes, often by fitting lyrics to a suitable pre-existing song. In this collaboration, the enthusiasm felt by the members of Ensemble Unicorn and Ensemble Oni Wytars is evident in their rousing performances, from the intoxicating (pun intended) first notes of "Bache, bene venies," a cheerful ode to the Greek god of wine, to the plea for the listener to follow the path of goodness and moderation in "Fas et nefas," to the deceptively lyrical music of "Ecce torpet probitas" that belies its harsh condemnation of greed and dishonesty. Perfect as an authentic sampling of one of the most famous archives of medieval song, Carmina Burana features lively renditions that should delight the true medieval music enthusiast as well as the novice; the excellent sound quality, the rollicking tempo, and the pure joy much of the music would also make it an excellent choice for a period dance lesson or a period wedding. — Richard Makenzie

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