Can anyone recommend a good anthology of Medieval music that I could have playing in the background at dinner parties?

Thanks!

A good starting place would be David Munrow; he really pushed the concept of period performance in the 20th century. 'Fretwork' is a period performance group that has several excellent albums as well. You can also check out Quaver, Fabrice Fitch, The King's Noyse, Musica Antiqua, Jordi Savall, and my hometown favorites: da Camera. Some of these are more centered on the renaissance and baroque eras, but I think you might get a kick out of them.

There are many other solid period performers and groups, but this should get you going.

Happy listening!

I'll second Munrow. There are others as well, but Munrow's stuff is a lot of fun. His film series on Medieval and Renaissance instruments is informative and quite (quite) entertaining if you can find it.

I guess it boils down to what you consider good background music. Some of Munrow's dance tunes are pretty raucous. If you want solemn plainchant or early polyphony for a more atmospheric effect, that's one set of recommendations. If you're more interested in vocal music or more interested instrumental music, that changes things, too. If you want light stuff for innocuous background music, that's one thing or there are more upbeat options with dance tunes, etc.

I love just about everything Gothic Voices recorded. It's mostly pure vocal polyphany, producing a gorgeous sound. I recommend "The Garden of Zephirus" and "Castle of Fair Welcome", though any recording of theirs will do. I'm not sure that these would work as background music.

Paul O'Dette - "Alla Veneziana" - maybe a little late, covering Venetian lute music from about 1500 - 1520 - still, wonderful lute music, that can be played during dinner and not be too intrusive.

Dufay Collective - "A Dance In The Garden Of Mirth" - instrumental music, from the 13th and 14 centuries. Some of this music is reflective, some kind of raucous.

Hesperion XX/Hesperion XXI - they mostly do Renaissance and Baroque, but they put out an occasional Medieval album

Also- take a look at this 6 CD anthology - http://www.amazon.com/tres-riches-heures-Moye...amp;sr=1-1 - I haven't listened to it, but it has been well received

Hello Moses,It's a large topic ,and mighty subjective ,but I'll venture a few suggestions.A personal favorite is Jordi Savall's" La Lyra D'espiria",an instrumental album of vielle(bowed instrument} music.Some You Tube or Amazon searches that might prove useful in finding pieces /groups you might like include; Guillaume de Machaut, Alfonso il Sabio, Medieval Baebes, Piffaro, The Baltimore Consort,Martin Best Medieval Ensemble ,and Lionheart.
My Absolute Favorite Of All Time,sadly available only in vinyl Is New York Pro Musica's" Medieval Roots".Doubtless there are genuine musicians out there who are better versed than I ,but I hope this is of some use.Good Hunting!

A very good CD for background music is Gothic Music in Bohemia 13th to 15th Centuries, by Ars Cameralis:

http://www.amazon.com/Gothic-Music-Bohemia-Ar...amp;sr=8-1

There's a wide mixture of songs, some featuring vocals, while others are instrumental, but the style and sound is particularly appropriate for a dinner party.

Even better, you can preview samples of the songs from Amazon's webpage so that you can have a feel for whether you would like the music or not.

You could always pick up a copy of the Ludus Danielis. It supposedly dates back as far as 1140, so it's definitely genuine medieval music. It might be a bit "formal" sounding for a casual dinner party though.

I know there are lots of different performances of this piece available out there, with slightly different interpretations of the piece.

I am a fan of Paul Butler's music. He performed live at the last Chivalric Weekend WMA event in New York and is very pleasant to talk and train with. Paul was also kind enough to provide me with music for the Poleaxe instructional DVD (going so far as to record the opening song just for us!)

Here's a link to his album : http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/pbconsort

I'd second all those, especially Guillaume de Machaut, but add Anonymous 4--not just their chant, but the collection of 14th c. Italian love songs is superb. Goes well with longsword drill, too.

I use Wardruna for medieval ambience ;-) Maybe a bit gloomy at times and they might sound a bit viking-ish but works well in most settings. Authentic instruments and as a bonus you might pick up some Norwegian:
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/songs/?query=wardruna

Well for the more impressive orchestra stuff, Corvux Corax made some of their own songs using the poems from the Carmina Burana (not carl orffs CB)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6rB696l3UM

Try some more authentic music by googling the troubadours from medieval times
You'll get music more suitable to play as background ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXiUX1R3RCE

Try to type these names in Youtube.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_troubadours_and_trobairitz

Sequentia does some excellent research into reconstructing medieval music: http://sequentia.org/

being tyrolean i should suppose oswald von wolkenstein.
at amazon

sample from youtube.

oswald was a very interesting guy, leaving his home with ten years, joining a travelling knight.
this sample song describes, where he was, but i honestly doubt, he visited all of the countries mentioned.
However its interesting to hear all this long-gone countries listed. ("hermani in persia, tartari in suria, reussen, preussen, tennmarck (=denmark), brabant, aragon, kastilie...)

I use an internet radio with pandorra. It's great. I like the plainsong of Hildegard Van Bingen.

Good Medieval music to buy http://www.matous.cz/katalog.php?seradit=obdob

I own "Sinners and Saints: The Ultimate Medieval and Rennaissance Music Collection" by Philip Pickett and teh New London Consort and "Chanterai: The Music of Medieval France" by Sonus, and like them both. I am not sure what is considered appropriate for a dinner party, though!

Been digging on Wolgemut lately....

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Wolgemut

shameless cross-thread, but I highly recommend Wardruna. Historical and ambient viking style music.

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=22418

I don't want to hijack the thread or anything but I thought asking here would be better than starting a new thread.

Can anyone recommend some up-beat/fast paced period music? Maybe something with good drums and not alot of high pitched female voices in the background like a lot of medieval music I've heard has? ;)

Once again don't wanna divert the thread, but just incase someone reading this knows of some music like that.