CANTIGA: The Otter's Pool

Cantiga

The Otter's Pool

© 2001 Cantiga (634479016707)

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CANTIGA evokes the rustic charm of the Renaissance Festival with sparkling Irish jigs, stately Renaissance airs and haunting Medieval tunes creating music which is childlike, mischievous and eerie.

notes

CANTIGA has been delighting visitors to Renaissance Festivals for almost thirty years. The band has a devoted following across America and has been called the "Quintessential Renaissance Festival Band".

Season after season, we have enjoyed playing great Celtic tunes and beautiful old haunting Medieval and Renaissance melodies, jamming together on them in a million different ways. And over the years, we've distilled off the best of all this ferment and bottled 4 great CDs of really magical stuff!

So have a listen!

Here's what folks have written us about The Otter's Pool:

"Having succumbed to the carefree tunes of their first creation - "Once Upon a Time", I was lulled most pleasantly to Cantiga's other gem 'The Otters Pool'. Close your eyes and imagine a place where festivity and merry making are the passing of the days, where music speaks emotions. The guys at Cantiga have an amazing ability to tap the emotions of the listener with their wonderful ménage of harp, fiddle, cello and flute. Merry, merry, merry". RATING FIVE STARS
Lawrence Dujmovic - Sydney, Australia

"I was taken to a Renaissance fair by my American daughter in law whilst visiting USA and heard Cantiga playing- thought they were so lovely to listen to. This CD brings back memories of happy times".
Susan Flaks Congresbury, North Somerset UK

"I heard them perform at the Sterling renaissance festival in 2004 and was hooked! This was our first visit to the festival and once I listened to them I felt like "man I have come home!"
Lawerence Wentworth Rochester NY

"I found the Cantiga CD "Once Upon a Time" at the public library, and loved it. Need more of the same!!"
Cindy Cantrell East Leroy, MI

"I hear Cantiga on Dish Network all the time. Whenever I hear a piece that I like, I say that must be Cantiga and sure enough it is!"
Perry King Manistique, MI



The "Otter's Pool" Reviewed by The Tudor Times

If you are a new fan, I urge you to collect everything recorded by these musicians that you can. If you are a long time loyal listener, you know what incredibly large musical footsteps fiddle player Mark Caudill follows in. (note: founding member fiddler Malcolm Smith died 1999) Rest assured, Mark is very talented, and the jigs, reels and brawls are made all the more merrier with his playing.

Listeners familiar with or new to Cantiga will delight in the blend of Celtic, Spanish, Islamic, Jewish and "medieval blues" running throughout the songs. Running throughout this musical tapestry are Max Dyer's consummate cello sounds--the ultimate "golden thread" which binds all the work together.

Complementing the cello and fiddle are lovely harp and flute sounds. It is difficult to feel melancholy, even on a rainy October day, when you can listen to Martha Gay and Bob Bielefeld playing.
Percussion masterfully handled by guest artists Jamal Mohamed and Nestor Prieto.

Reviewer: Maggie Boleyn The Tudor Times

reviews

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  • Another great CD by the BEST early music group.
    author: Mr. Knoch

    The Otter's pool is a fantastic work of art. I heard Owain Phyffe at a local festival and, through him, learned of Cantiga and what a great a sound they have. I was quite intrigued. I purchased their CD's and was completely blown away. There are no songs on any of their CD's that I did not enjoy. How many artists can you say that about? Their sound is accessible not only to us early music lovers but also to anyone else who happens to hear them by chance (or luck). Their sound truly bridges the gulf between centuries. I became an instant fan and will purchase any and all the work they can produce. They are simply the best.

  • A very good CD
    author: Taylor, Lover of Renaissance Music

    This was a very good CD, though I thought "Once Upon a Time" was a little better. "The Otter's Pool" was very relaxing, to the point that one nearly forgets that one is listening to it. The instrument selection is wonderful, without any of the more bizzare instruments of the era that often sound harsh to modern ears. Overall, it is a very good CD that takes you back in time and serves as an escape from the hustle and bustle of life.

  • Lovely!
    author: Nancy

    Cantiga was recommended to me through a friend's Live Journal entry and I immediately fell in love with them. "The Otter's Pool" is one of my favorites -- restful and lovely. This CD is especially wonderful to listen to while working or driving -- evoking a different world than the insane one we live in. I highly recommend it to lovers of the Renaissance era.

  • Dance, jig and be Merry
    author: Lawrence Dujmovic

    Having succumbed to the carefree tunes of their first creation - "Once Upon a Time", I was lulled most pleasantly to Cantiga's other gem 'The Otters Pool'. Lets commence with their tract, 'The Otter's Pool'. It could have been used as the music for the backdrop for the arrival of Gandalf into the Shire in the Fellowship of the Ring. Guess Peter Jackson missed out here. Close your eyes and imagine a place where festivity and merry making are the passing of the days, where music speaks emotions. The guys at Cantiga have an amazing ability to tap the emotions of the listener with their wonderful ménage of harp, fiddle, cello and flute. Merry, merry, merry. - Lawrence Dujmovic - Sydney, Australia

  • I love the spirit and sound of cantiga's music.
    author: jana cinder

    The music from Otter's Pool makes me smile and feel light inside.It is Celtic and Medeival and wistful and joyous. The music makes you feel like your'e hanging out with long ago friends who played bluegrass in the park. It evokes familiarity and you just smile, maybe with some tears. Maybe just happy remembering. It's a fine CD. On the silly side, might I add that this CD is medicinal to countering road rage on the freeway. While you're listening in the car, you cannot free stress or anger. When that Ford Explorer suddenly cuts in, you just smile and shake your head at his bad manners. The music is medicinal calm and joy.

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