Dowland: The First Booke of Songes: His golden locks time hath to silver turned

Dowland dedicated his song From Silent Night “To my loving countryman, Mr. John Forster the younger, merchant of Dublin, in Ireland”, revealing his possible Irish origins. Working closely with the American tenor Michael Slattery, La Nef gives Dowland’s Ayres a simple celtic flavour. “…a talented and serious artist.” Gramophone.

‘The Queen’ is a new CD by the Toronto Consort – numbering some of Canada’s leading early music specialists – which recreates musical life at the court of Elizabeth I. Many of these songs were written for or about this remarkable monarch, while others are songs that would have been performed at her court.

The Toronto Consort is Canada’s foremost chamber ensemble specialising in the music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and early Baroque periods. The consort members include both singers and instrumentalists (lute, recorder, guitar, flute, early keyboards and percussion).They have previously produced a recording for Marquis titled “Praetorius Christmas Vespers” (774718133526), as well as several CDs for the American label Dorian. Queen Elizabeth the First was an accomplished musician so it is likely that she played many of the songs featured on this album. Elizabeth was also, famously, a lover of dancing and dance music. Even as she lay dying, Elizabeth is said to have asked for music so that she might die as gaily as she lived. She heard music until her last breath.

Guild is pleased to present music by John Dowland combined with world premiere recordings of 5 new lute songs by Peter Croton, lute teacher at the renowned Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. An additional feature of this recording is the inclusion of new lute solos arranged by Croton based on Dowland songs. In CONCERTO Magazine: “The manner in which the Bothe/Croton duo, with intelligent emotionality and natural passion, was able to uncover new aspects of lute songs by Dowland totally enchanted the audience, which exploded in thunderous applause”. In the GERMAN LUTE SOCIETY newsletter: “The few attempts to extend the lute repertory into the 20th and 21st centuries have not attracted the attention of the listening public. All the more welcome, therefore, is the opportunity to report here songs which in my opinion have the potential to become a permanent part of the lute song repertory… the audience is treated to music both challenging and refined. Bothe’s voice is a feast for the ears, Croton’s playing is lively and impeccable”. Special guest Derek Lee Ragin is regarded as one of the foremost vocal artists of our day and is also known to a wide international audience from the soundtrack to the film "Farinelli”.

The set comprises Bream’s solo Dowland LP (1954) – which was his debüt solo recording, played on lute - and his solo Bach LP (1956), both originally recorded on the Westminster label and justly celebrated at the time. Here they are brought together with a wide selection of Dowland ayres, sung by The Golden Age Singers with Bream’s lute accompaniment. The CD booklet has a newly commissioned note by Tully Potter, a personal friend of Julian Bream, and includes reproductions of the original LP covers, LP labels and photos of the artists.

A new recording by the ascending British star of the early music and baroque scene. Grace Davidson’s distinctive and ethereal voice can be heard in ensemble with such groups as The Sixteen, Tenebrae, the Monteverdi Choir, the English Concert, the Gabrieli Consort, Ensemble Plus Ultra and Ex Cathedra. This is the first album devoted entirely to her own voice and features her in a range of early music repertoire from Hildegard to Mozart and is accompanied by the original instrument orchestra Fiori Musicali.

Grace Davidson takes as her canvas for this vocal portrait music ranging over 700 years of musical history, displaying a wonderful variety of musical textures and colours. From the subtle, suggestive monody of Hildegard of Bingen (the 12th-century visionary) through to the distinctive music of the Neapolitan baroque and the vivid tones of Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate this is a musical journey portraying an outstandingly beautiful new voice. The music performed includes rarities such as Mancini, Koželuch and Leo as well as well known works by John Dowland, Bach and Mozart.