Dowland: Time stands still

The Scottish and Irish airs and instrumental pieces chosen for this new sampler were selected from previous ATMA recordings by singers Meredith Hall, Matthew White, and Michael Slattery, along with ensembles La Nef and Skye Consort.

The lyrics of traditional Scottish and Irish songs from the 17th and 18th centuries are closely related to the social life of the time, and several airs tell the stories of love between lads and lassies. Tenor Michael Slattery sings John Dowland’s songs with an Irish flavor, while soprano Meredith Hall and countertenor Matthew White perform Scottish music from the era of the famous Killiecrankie battle.

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.

There are few pleasures more delightful than musical melancholy, especially when it flows from the pen of the finest Elizabethan poets and a composer whose name will be forever associated with that emotion: John Dowland. His lute songs and consort songs form the backbone of Andreas Scholl's latest recital.

The countertenor has gathered his favourite partners around him in the service of this sublime vocal art, elegantly distilling its fragile instants of grace.The songs are adroitly interspersed with instrumental pieces by Dowland's contemporaries.

Bonus DVD NTSC: a performance of the song 'Venus' birds' and a documentary on the making of this recording.Trailers available on harmoniamundi.com & Youtube.

Since it was founded in Basel in 1989, Concerto di Viole has played as a permanent ensemble. Its four members all studied at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and each individual brings to it rich musical experience with well-known international ensembles.They have recorded a number of CDs including German Baroque cantatas with Andreas Scholl for harmonia mundi in 1998.

Founded in 1996 and consisting of musicians who have performed in ensembles such as Collegium Vocale and Capilla Flamenca, their CD De Fragiltate (KTC4023) was awarded the prestigious Diapason d’Or. Here they perform songs by Locke, Morley, Campion, Lawes, Ravenscroft and others. Included is a 15th anniversary Zefiro Torna CD.

‘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.

Theresa Dloughy (soprano) and Eva Reiter (viola da gamba) founded the duo Unidas in 2008. They specialise in English Renaissance music, particularly unknown works. On this CD they perform with guests Christopher Dickie (lute) and Ulfried Staber (bass). Together, they pay tribute to the link between church songs and secular distraction.

‘The Virgin Queen’ Elizabeth I was the focal-point of all England; the subject, dedicatee and audience for much of the music composed and performed throughout her long and now legendary reign. The music on this album, chosen for a concert of words and music devised for the Sarum Consort by Deborah Mackay, includes sacred and secular pieces by composers from Byrd to Weelkes. The Sarum Consort here makes its Naxos début under founding musical director Andrew Mackay. “The Sarum Consort is a finely balanced and blended group… whose pacing and control of light and shade cannot be faulted.” Penguin Guide

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”.