Song of the Week: Stella Nuova
Joglaresa
Stella Nuova
I’ve been keeping myself busy with an evening course on Early Music recently. Since I know practically nothing about any music from before 1900 it has been enlightening and educational to say the least.
One thing that I have learnt is that not all ‘early music’ involves Greek Orpheus types plucking lyres and monks chanting spooky exhortations to God. No, sometimes there is rippingly upbeat stuff such as this.
‘Stella Nuova’ is an Italian tune from around the 12th century and like say, this year’s German Eurovision winner ‘Satellite’*, is annoyingly catchy.
‘Stella Nuova’, Joglaresa, from Stella Nuova: Celebratory Songs of Medieval Italy, 2005
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* You did watch it didn’t you?
Tags: song of the week
May 31st, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Agreed, it’s as catchy as hell and if Eurovision had been around in the 12th Century (and if Italy had been a country then rather than a rough collection of warring City-states) then Stella Nuova would have been a front-runner.
And no I didn’t watch it as I spent the weekend on a canal boat with no TV on it (this wasn’t arranged especially to avoid the Eurovision but I didn’t find myself pining for it, it’s just not the same without Terry at the helm is it?)
May 31st, 2010 at 10:53 pm
I’m sure I heard someone banging this (or similar) out at the Leigh-on-Sea folk festival last year!! (and will no doubt hear it again this year).
Certainly got a finger-in-the-ear folk kinda feel, so incredible that it dates back to the 12 Century… Wonder if they had the chunky knit jumpers too??
June 1st, 2010 at 11:38 am
There sure is some lovely stuff in history.
I avoided Eurovision in the end, with the help of a bottle of Aspalls (well earned after lots of digging in the garden), Dr Who from earlier in the evening and some daft action film with John Travolta shooting drug dealers in Paris we had borrowed from a neighbour, the title of which escapes me completely.
June 1st, 2010 at 1:42 pm
This wouldn’t sound out of place on Jools Holland’s Later – almost Arcade Fire meets one of the international acts. And no I didn’t watch Eurovision *shudders*
June 1st, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Jonathan, I completely disagree. Eurovision is much better now that Terry has left it alone. But then again, the appeal of Terry Wogan is quite high up on my ‘things I don’t understand about Britain’ list. Still a weekend on a canal boat sounds way more exciting than a bunch of samey samey Eurotrash tunes I have to admit.
Simon, surely you too are a little misguided – a bottle of Aspalls (or 2 or 3) is perfect preparation for the delights of Eurovision! You can sing along too, I believe, if you press the red button.
Piley, there can be a thin line between early music and folk, particularly when you can’t understand the words. Despite it’s finger in the ear qualities, I think that Stella Nuova is still about the joys of God-bothering, rather than highwaymen, sheep rustling or black-legged miners. I don’t think that that precludes the wearing of chunky knit jumpers however.
June 1st, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Actually, Mondo, I’m sorry to admit that even I got a bit bored by Eurovision this year. Some 12th century attitude might have just given it the pep that it needed. That or another Lordi style hard rock anthem.
June 3rd, 2010 at 4:09 pm
That makes me come over all ’saucy novice’, does that. Very compelling.
I watched Eurovision in Crete, and had a great time until I got hacked off with the political voting (especially as Greece were in with a shout as they had a decent tune, and if a country ever needed a bit of a lift then it’s Greece.). I didn’t miss Terry Wogan one bit. I thought he was becoming a bit tiresome towards the end of his reign, truth be told (cries of ‘BURN HER!’ from the general population…)
June 3rd, 2010 at 4:09 pm
PS – the best Eurovison Winner of recent years was Ruslana from Ukraine, about 6 years ago. By a mile. What a woman….
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:08 pm
The political voting is always there isn’t? But I think that the song can win over it if it’s any good. If it didn’t there is no way that Germany could have won. As Graham said, Germany winning means that there is hope for us all.
You must REALLY like Rusiana as I’m sure you’ve recommended her before. I was taken aback then too…