Saturday, November 12, 2011

Medieval Music & Songs of The Troubadors

I have no idea how I wound up with this record. Seriously. I was listening to my Sea Shanties record today and this was filed next to it in on the record shelf. I imagine this only cost me the usual $1, but yet again - what a cool record for a buck! The music itself? Typical crumhorn, recorder, viol, tabor and nakers cacophony with lots of singing that sounds like primordial French - a glorious sound to drive teenagers screaming from the living room (take heed ye parents with youngsters lurking)!

But the real awesome discovery connected to this record was what I read on the back cover - "Produced by: Isabella Wallich". Looking at the Everest Record Company address listed at the bottom (a Los Angeles address) I wondered if Everest was at all connected to the famous Wallich's Record Store. Well, the address for Everest did not match where Wallich's was. Then I googled Isabella and came up with her obituary:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1314015/Isabella-Wallich.html

Wow! What an interesting life this woman led! And I reckon she figured the same since she wrote her autobiography:  http://www.amazon.com/Recording-My-Life-Isabella-Wallich/dp/1860743277

The first female record producer and record label owner. Her uncle was among the group of men to start EMI and Abbey Road studios. She was an early champion of Mahler and the guitarist John Williams. And, she produced the above record of Medieval music.

Of course, I am very interested in reading her book. Reviews are sure to follow! Bravo Isabella!