Robinson, T: Spanish Pavan

Antony Rooley writes: ‘Since 1963 I had been spending many hours in the British Library studying the sixteenth-century English lute manuscripts … what a unique collection! The “Jane Pickering Lute Book”, “The John Sturt Lute Book”, “The Mynshall Lute Book” – all collections of one individual’s personal choice of repertoire, each with unique information on fingering, ornamentation, taste and style.

‘I was invited by Decca to make a solo lute recital – and as no one in the company knew the repertoire, I was left alone to finalize my choice. How to choose from such wonderfully obscure collections from 400 years ago?

‘Why did I choose John Cozens’ Lute Book (residing in Cambridge University Library) from the rest? Well, I admired his taste! I admired his ornamentation! I admired his clarity! It is a wonderful collection of the very best Elizabethan/Jacobean lute music – and it was about the right length for an LP. (Although in the end I made a selection rather than the complete manuscript).

‘I can only say, 35 years on, I was a very lucky young man and I think I made the wisest choice – it is still a collection of very beautiful music!’

This delicious LP makes its first appearance on CD on this Decca Eloquence reissue.

“This is an anthology of the best kind … Rooley’s playing is thoughtful and gentle … he has a fine sense of the long-range spread of a piece and the playing has a pleasing combination of control and relaxation.” Gramophone

Christian IV, 1577-1648, invested the Danish court with immense prestige. Added to diplomatic and military ambitions was a rich artistic life, especially in music. The Copenhagen court was rich with singers and instrumentalists, and therefore became an important place of passage for European composers. Les Witches invite us to listen to their latest recording, a celebration of Danish court musicians and the Esaias Compenius organ, installed in the chapel of the Frederiksborg Castle by Christian IV in 1617, but actually built in 1610 a mere 400 years ago, and played by both Dowland and Praetorius.

Joachim Held is currently one of the best lute players in the world and received the 2006 Echo Klassik Prize for his CD Delightful Lute-Pleasure (HAEN98232). In the 16th and 17th centuries the concept of “melancholy” was seen as a deeply poetic element of soaring ecstasy with the power to inspire even better deeds. Held performs works by Holborne, Dowland, Byrd, Johnson and Cutting.