Art & Music: Da Vinci - Music of His Time



Sample Track


Helas mon dueil
Performed by: Unicorn Ensemble



Helas mon dueil 04:04


Art and Music
Leonardo da Vinci - Music of His Time
Music by Dufay, Isaac, Josquin, Agricola, Obrecht, and Tromboncino
Author: Hugh Griffith
1 CD with illustrated, explanatory booklet
Naxos 8.558057

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) is our prototype for the universal genius: painter, architect, military engineer, and anatomist, his far-ranging scientific curiosity placed him centuries ahead of his time. On this CD, the world of da Vinci is given a musical perspective with a carefully chosen selection of pieces by the finest composers of the day. Inside, Hugh Griffith provides explanatory notes on his life and musical environment.

As soon as we discover that the nature of sound was something that absorbed the interest of Leonardo da Vinci for many years, and that, according to Vasari, he 'sang divinely, improvising his own accompaniment on the lira', we begin to realise the importance of music in his life. Exploring the music written during his lifetime forms a fascinating backdrop to his paintings, several of which are illustrated within the booklet.