In classical antiquity Mneme was the Muse of Memory to-gether with Melete and Aoide, the ancient Muses of learning and singing. Memory has been consistently associated with music. Techniques of memory (Greek mnemotecnicae) can be found in medieval sources as early as the invention of Guido d’Arezzo’s “memory hand”. In medieval times popular as well as art music was widely learned and performed by heart. Music often only survived thanks to the musicians’ memory. Also traditional music is being passed down from master to disciple by memorizing melodies and verses through the centuries in many different cultures and places. This program brings together late medieval music from different Mediterranean regions: Castile, Provence, Florence, Thrace and Cyclades. Each area has its own specific characteristics and idioms. Each one holds its specific memories — Mneme as a unique interpretation of the world. (Carpe Diem Records)
NOTE : The 420 Cantigas de Santa Maria is an anthology collected under King Alfonsos’ patronage. The writers are unknown, although several studies have suggested that Galican poet Airas Nunes might have been the author of a large number of the Cantiga poems. King Alfonso X — named as Affonso in the Cantigas — is also supposed to be an author of some of them as he refers himself in first person.