The Lauda, a musical-poetic genre first developed by Saint Francis of Assisi, is historically the oldest and remains one of the most remarkable expressions of Italian popular musical culture from the Middle Ages to our day.
In this double CD set La Reverdie presents a rich and varied anthology of Italian monophonic Laude from the two principal sources of this repertoire: the manuscripts of Cortona (ca. 1270) and Florence (ca. 1320), centered on the main themes common to both: the cult of the Virgin Mary and the devotion of the Saints.
Along with recorded performances of many pieces from the Florence manuscript never before recorded, the two CD set includes a presentation booklet with detailed introductory essays illustrating the methods of musicological research involved in the reconstruction of this repertoire, as well as its continuing social, historical, cultural and religious significance, upon which La Reverdie has founded its unique interpretative approach.

From the cover:
The lauda, a type of vernacular sacred song first developed by St Francis of Assisi, is one of the most remarkable expressions of popular religious music to have emerged in Italy between the Middle Ages and the present day.
Here La Reverdie presents a rich and varied selection of pieces, addressed to the Virgin and the saints, taken from the two substantial laude collections that have come down to us: those of Cortona (c.1270) and Florence (c.1320).

Tracks:
CD 1 - Laude di Sancta Maria
1 - Venite a Laudare  5'34
2 - Ave Maria (antiphon)'1
3 - Verbum Patris hodie 1'04
4 - Die ti salvi Regina 3'47
5 - Voi ch'amate 5'10
6 - Or piangiamo 7'9
7 - Dulcis Jesu memoria / Jesu nostra redemptio 2'17
8 - Onne homo 6'42
9 - D.D. Sherwin: Diana stella 3'00
10 - Chi vuol lo mondo 3'06
11 - Troppo perde'l tempo 6'08
12 - Ortorum virentium / Virga Yesse 1'01
13 - Con la madre 3'39
14 - Ave maris stella (sequenza) 3'05
15 - Ave Donna sanctissima 7'01
16 - Assumpta est Maria (antiphon) 2'38
17 - Ave Regina gloriosa  6'00
CD 2 - Legenda Aurea
1 - Anonyme: Facciam laude a tucti i sancti 3'46
2 - Anonyme: Sia laudato San Francesco 7'57
3 - Anonyme: San Domenico beato 4'00
4 - Anonyme: Ciascun ke fede sente 3'50
5 - Anonyme: Santa Agnese da Dio amata 7'02
6 - D.D Sherwin: Novel canto / Sia laudato San Vito 5'08
7 - Anonyme: Laudiam' lli gloriosi martiri 2'50
8 - Anonyme: Pastor principe beato 2'35
9 - Anonyme: Magdalena degna da laudare 10'33
10 - Anonyme: Spiritu Sancto dolçe amore 7'11
11 - Anonyme: Benedicti e llaudati 13'23