The book of marvels
A music journey following the steps of Marco Polo
David Riondino narrating voice
LaReverdie
Claudia Caffagni voice, lute, bells
Livia Caffagni voice, viella, flutes
Elisabetta de Mircovich voice, viella, ribeca, symphonia
Matteo Zenatti voice, harp, percussions
With the participations of
Elena Baldassarri tabla, bendir, tibetan bells
Ourania Lampropoulou santur, voice
ANONIMO ITALIANO DEL XIV SECOLO
Trotto danza (London, British Library, MS. Add. 29987)
ANONIMO SPAGNOLO DEL XIV SECOLO
Stella splendens virelai (Montserrat, Biblioteca del Monasterio 1, Llibre Vermell)
ANONIMO FRANCESE DI FINE XIII SECOLO
Huic placuit Magi mottetto (Montpellier, Bibl. Fac. Med., MS H 196)
JOHANNES SYMONIS HASPROIS
Puisque je suis fumeux ballade (Chantilly, Bibliotheque du Musee Conde, MS 564)
ANONIMO ITALIANO DEL XIV SECOLO
Belicha danza (London, British Library, MS. Add. 29987)
JACOPO DA BOLOGNA
Per sparverare caccia (Firenze, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Panciatichiano 26)
ANONIMO FRANCESE DEL XIV SECOLO
Pantheon abluitur / Apollinis eclipsatur / Zodiacum signis mottetto (Strasbourg, Bibliothèque Municipale, 222 C. 22)
ANONIMO ITALIANO DEL XIV SECOLO
Salterello danza (London, British Library, MS. Add. 29987)
ANONIMO ITALIANO DEL XIII SECOLO
Benedicti e llaudati lauda (Cortona, Biblioteca Comunale e dell’Accademia Etrusca, MS 91)
ANONIMO FRANCESE DI FINE XIII SECOLO
Pange melos conductus (Firenze, Biblioteca Laurenziana, MS Pluteus 29.1)
ANONIMO SPAGNOLO DEL XII SECOLO
Congaudeant Catholici conductus (Santiago de Compostela, Catedral Metropolitan, Codex Calixtinus)
ANONIMO FRANCESE DI FINE XIII SECOLO
S’on me regarde / Prennés i garde / Hé mi enfant mottetto (Montpellier, Université Faculté des Medicins, MS H196)
JOHANNES CICONIA
Venecie mundi splendor mottetto (Bologna, Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica, MS Q15)
In 1271 when only seventeen, Marco Polo left his native Venice for the tartar court of Kublai Kan; he reached destination after a long sea journey until Acri in what is nowadays Israel, then via Bagdad crossing central Asia. At court he was welcomed with full honours and became a man of trust charged of diplomatic duties which took him to many different places. In 1292 he came back home, at thirty-eight. Three years later, he was made a prisoner by Genoans during the naval battle of Curzola; Marco told his experience in his famous dictation to his cell mate Rustichello da Pisa.This tale is what makes so beguiling the story of this adventurous merchant who in the distant past dared to visit far places for commercial interests: in his detailed report, written by a skilled chanson de geste poet like Rustichello, we may read clear descriptions of places, habits and narrative of historic facts and legends.
David Riondino reconstructs the journey of Marco Polo with sounds, his readings of the Book of marvels are accompanied by music performed by the ensemble LaReverdie: Venetian and French texts, taken from religious and secular archives along with eastern melodies which recall the remote and fascinating world which impressed Marco Polo and Rustichello so much.
