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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | In Darkness Let Me DwellThe Seven Shades of Melancholy
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| |  | John Dowland - Lute Music Volume 1Fancyes, Dances & Spirits
“The prospect of a Nigel North set is something to drool over, and this first installment doesn't disappoint. Pre-eminently the lutenist's lutenist, North is steeped in the music - and technically beyond reproach. Can anyone slip the colourist gears as smoothly? Every opening chord makes you sit up and pay attention; lazy listening is never an option.” BBC Music Magazine ***** “A collector’s item” The Times “…Nigel North… has organised his programme into alternative groups of dancelike pieces, often bearing the dedicatee's name, and free-form works of an often profound nature, including the seven superb Fantasies. The resultant light and shade, the changing moods and the robustness of much of the writing is perfectly mirrored in North's own deployment of tone, ornamentation and shifting emphases. This is mature playing of real depth.” Gramophone Magazine, September 2006  BBC Music Magazine
Instrumental Choice - August 2006 |
| | | (also available to download from $6.00) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Merry MelancholyEnglish Lute Music
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. “Held's interpretations are steady but subtly phrased, sparingly ornamented and never indulge in extremes of tempo or rubato. With this recording Held offers us fresh insights into the soundscape of private music-making in the late Elizabethan era.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2010 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Joanna MacGregor - Live In Buenos AiresTeatro Coliseo, 3 May 2007
Includes premiere recordings of MacGregor's arrangements of works by Dowland, Gismonti and Piazzolla. “The programme itself bears MacGregor's stamp, combining tradition with innovation. Her Bach concerto gives Gould a run for his money in the wilful stakes, never letting us forget the piano's percussive qualities...MacGregor clearly relishes the Piazzolla works, which play to her strengths, visceral effect and drama to the fore” Gramophone Magazine, April 2010 | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Forlorn Hope Fancy
Renaissance dances and fantasies for lute played by renowned lute specialist Rosemary Hodgson. Music by Dowland, Galilei, Kapsberger and Robinson. | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Dowland - In Darkness Let Me Dwell
John Dowland, born in London around 1563, was the most renowned lutenist in Europe. As a composer, he captured perfectly the fashionable melancholy of the Elizabethan age. For her new album In Darkness Let Me Dwell, viola da gamba virtuoso Hille Perl has selected some of Downland’s songs, coupled with instrumental pieces from his famous collection Lachrimae, or Seven Tears (1604). Together with her viola da gamba ensemble The Sirius Viols, the Amercian lutenist Lee Santana and the soprano Dorothee Mields Hille Perl eloquently portrays the melancholy spirit of Dowland’s music. In the songs, the solo lute pieces, the gaillards and pavanes for viola da gamba consort this melancholy is infinitely touching, and highly expressive. For this recording, The Sirius Viols was able to use copies of original instruments from the workshop of renowned instrument maker Tilman Muthesius from Potsdam. “It might not be evident in Sting's versions, but the music of the 16th-century composer John Dowland involved an appreciation of the way despair could be surmounted by its transformation into melancholy artistic expression.
That shines through the "Seven Shades of Melancholy" captured in these 15 interpretations by lutenist Lee Santana and a consort of viola da gamba led by Hille Perl, with soprano Dorothee Mields giving full account of the "despaire, griefe and sorrowe" in Dowland's lyrics.” The Independent, 13th February 2009 **** “Mields's slight accent aside, the songs are a pleasure to listen to: the voice - full yet light and with just a hint of vibrato - blends fully with the sonorous, well balanced and highly musical Sirius Viols… while yielding to the gentle majesty of Santana's expertly played lute...” Gramophone Magazine, May 2009 | | | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. |
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| |  | Julian Bream plays Dowland and Bach
Bach, J S: | Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV1004: Chaconne Prelude for Lute in C minor, BWV999 played in D minor Lute Suite No. 1 in E minor, BWV996: Sarabande Lute Suite No. 1 in E minor, BWV996: Bourrée Prelude from Lute Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV997 played in A minor Fugue from Lute Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV997 played in A minor Prelude, Fugue & Allegro for Lute in E flat major, BWV998 played in D major | Dowland: | The most sacred Queene Elizabeth her Galliard Lachrimae Antiquae Mrs White's Nothing, P. 56 Mrs Vaux's Jig, P. 57 A Fancy Orlando Sleepeth Fantasia P72 The King of Denmark, His Galliard Melancholy Galliard Lady Hunsdon's Puffe Semper Dowland Semper Dolens Almain Sir Henry Umpton's Funeral Forlorn Hope Fancy (Fantasie No. 2) Ayres for 4 voices Humour say what mak’st thou here Can she excuse my wrongs? (First Booke of Songes, 1597) The First Booke of Songes: His golden locks time hath to silver turned Stay time awhile thy flying The lowest trees have tops Unquiet thoughts Praise blindness, eyes, for seeing is deceit My heart and tongue were twins |
Julian Bream (lute & guitar), Edith Steinbauer (treble viol), Beatrice Reichert (alto & tenor viol), Frieda Litschauer (tenor viol), Ernst Knava (bass viol) & Elizabeth Osborn (soprano) The Golden Age Singers, Margaret Field-Hyde 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. “…Bream's genius transcends all. Whether it's in the astonishing intensity of Dowland's Melancholy Galliard and Forlorn Hope Fancy or in the finely proportioned sense of pace and drama in Bach's Chaconne, the impression is ultimately of a meeting of equals.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2008 | | (Sorry, download not available in your country) | |
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| |  | The John Dowland CollectionWith new booklet article, Dowland timeline, and sung texts in English
Dowland: | Lachrimae Antiquae If my complaints could passions move Can she excuse my wrongs? (First Booke of Songes, 1597) Come away, come, sweet love My Lady Hudson's Allmande A Piece without title The Shoemaker's Wife Come again, sweet love doth now invite Come heavy sleep Mr Dowland's Midnight Sir John Smith, His Almain Semper Dowland Semper Dolens Lachrimae Gementes I saw my Lady weepe Flow my teares (Lacrimæ) Fine knacks for ladies Shall I sue? Lachrimae Tristes Me, me, and none but me Forlorn Hope Fancy (Fantasie No. 2) Weepe you no more, sad fountaines Lachrimae Coactae Go, nightly cares The Right Honourable Ferdinando The most sacred Queene Elizabeth her Galliard Tell me, true Love Lachrimae Amantis In darkness let me dwell A Fantasie My Lord Chamberlaine his Galliard Far from triumphing Court I shame at mine unworthiness Lachrimae Verae |
Whether gay or sad, simple or complex, John Dowland’s music has the power to move us four centuries after its composition. This wide-ranging anthology explores all aspects of the work of England’s greatest songwriter and lutenist, performed by leading exponents of his art today. “The collection might have sounded like a bit of a hotchpotch were it not for the fact that Dowland's celebrated Lachrimae pavans are woven through the sequence, giving the whole a sense of unity and shape. All in all, it makes a nostalgic and inspiring testimony to Dowland's versatility.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2007 **** | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Masters of the Lute
“This is Matthew Wadsworth’s finest release to date … a gem of an album, which exudes intelligence, sensitivity and sheer class … A richly painted recital that really shouldn’t be missed.” Gramophone Magazine, December 2006 | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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Gramophone Magazine
