Dowland: Lady Hunsdon's Puffe

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.

Rediscovered gems recorded by the “First Lady of the Harpsichord”.

Keyboard music of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries from Spain and Portugal (Cabezon, Carvalho, Seixas, Soler) and England (Byrd, Bull, Croft, Morley, Dowland, Farnaby, Munday, Peerson, Richardson, Purcell) Recorded in Prague at the Domovina studio, April 1966 (CD1) and at the Rudolfinum, October 1983 (CD2) To celebrate the 85th birthday of the “First Lady of the Harpsichord”, Supraphon is once more returning toZuzana Růžičková’s extensive discography.

Hot on the heels of the previous release (SU 4117-2), dedicated to Bach, Scarlatti and 20th-century works, this CD is focused on the very beginnings of the history of the harpsichord and the music intended for this instrument. The period spanning the 16th-18th centuries delimitates (disregarding modern music) the entire epoch of the harpsichord’s pre-eminence. Juxtaposing the harpsichord repertoire from the Iberian Peninsula with that hailing from the British Isles gives rise to interesting comparisons. Spain and England had bitter long-term political tensions, yet when it comes to the beginnings of music for keyboards we can find strong similarities between the two countries, including the influence of the powerful organ and lute traditions. Zuzana Růžičková’s supreme musicality makes these recordings more than a document; her accounts allow this precious music to dazzle in fine shades of colour and light. These sublime recordings are being released on CD for the very first time.

Tom Daun has been working with early harp music for a long time and has also performed his own compositions. Here he performs on an “arpa doppia” and a much smaller gothic harp. The collection includes works by Dowland, Weiss, Reusner, Bach and Neusidler.

Renaissance dances and fantasies for lute played by renowned lute specialist Rosemary Hodgson. Music by Dowland, Galilei, Kapsberger and Robinson.

Daniel Taylor is one of the most sought-after countertenors in the world today. This album represents a compilation taken from the almost twenty recordings Taylor has made for the ATMA label since 1997, and includes music by Bach, Handel, Purcell, Dowland and Buxtehude, among others. Taylor is heard performing solo, as well as with such singers as Suzie LeBlanc and Jan Kobow, in what promises to be the definitive portrait of this gifted artist.

The unrivalled master of the consort song and virtually the founding father of keyboard music, William Byrd -no less than John Dowland - is well served in these arrangements with viola da gamba duo and with lute. The purely instrumental pieces beautifully set off the telling voice of star countertenor Daniel Taylor.