A Fine Companion
A Fine Companion is an album of newly-composed settings of troubadour songs and texts, written in a dream-pop/shoegaze/psychedelic rock style for an amplified combination of medieval and new instruments.
The texts of this project were chosen by Charles Mueller (composer) and the ensemble, with a focus on troubadour lyrics that expand or refute the standard tropes of chivalrous love by choosing poems from a feminine perspective, and by delving into the metaphysical and spiritual subsets of the genre. The unbridled sensuality of the arrangements create space for a raw experience that inspires a visceral reaction in the listener. Mueller has used pre-existing troubadour music as a melodic and modal prompt on a number of pieces, with direct quotations organically morphing as if in an inspired game of telephone.
“Re-contextualizing 12th-century texts and melodies into a package of psychedelic synth-pop could seem a bit of a stretch. Alkemie’s latest project somehow makes it seem perfectly natural.”
PROGRAM
the switch with which one switches oneself (Text: La Comtessa de Dia)
love is like the spark (escoutatz!) (Text: Marcabru)
seguin + valensa (Text: La Comtessa de Dia )
i know a lady (Text: Guilhem IX Duke of Aquitaine, VII Count of Poitiers)
nor (Text & Music: Peire Cardenal)
Judas (Text: Peire Cardenal)
the butterfly (Text & Music: Folquet de Marseilla)
(find yourself) a fine companion (Text & Music: Guiraut de Bornelh)
D’aurenga (Text: Azalais de Porcairagues)
All arrangements are by Charles Mueller; all music is by Charles Mueller except where notes. Texts are taken from 12th and 13th-century troubadours.
46 minutes of music - this program is about an hour with readings, tuning, and talking to the audience.
ARTISTS
Tracy Cowart (voice, harps)
Jim Hopkins (synthesizers, harmonium)
Cameron LeCrone (percussion)
Ben Matus (voice, medieval bagpipes, recorders, dulcian)
Charles Mueller (composer, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, percussion)
Sian Ricketts (voice, recorders, douçaines)
Niccolo Seligmann (viola da gamba, vielles, viola a chiavi, psaltery, scheitholt)
Elisa Sutherland (voice, percussion)
Spiff Wiegand (electric guitar, bass, banjo, percussion)
PAST PERFORMANCES
Tracy Cowart
voice, harps, hurdy-gurdy, percussion
Jim Hopkins
synthesizers, Rhodes, harmonium
Cameron LeCrone
drum set
Ben Matus
voice, recorders, dulcian, hümmelchen, ukelele
Charles Mueller
composer, guitar, bass guitar, glockenspiel
Sian Ricketts
voice, douçaines, recorders
Composed by Charles Mueller.
Produced by Tracy Cowart, Charles Mueller, and Sian Ricketts.
Engineered by Charles Mueller.
Mastered by Mike Tierney.
Recorded at Tiny Panther Recording, Mount Vernon NY, March 2022.
Published by BMI.
Photography by Anja Schutz.
Cover art and design by Haeg Design.
© 2023 • BSTV-0195 • brightshiny.ninja •
Niccolo Seligmann
vielles, viola a chiavi, psaltery, gittern, viola da gamba, percussion
Ellie Sutherland
voice