Oh Merry Melancholy
Held shows that the popular music of the 16th century had a certain x-factor
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Philip Rosseter, John Dowland, Richard Allison, Francis Cutting, John Johnson, Thomas Robinson, Anonymous
Genre:
Instrumental
Label: Classic
Magazine Review Date: 13/2010
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: CD98 600
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Almain |
Anonymous, Composer
Anonymous, Composer Joachim Held, Lute |
(The) Schoole of Musicke, Movement: Go from my Window |
Thomas Robinson, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute Thomas Robinson, Composer |
(The) Schoole of Musicke, Movement: Gigue 1 |
Thomas Robinson, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute Thomas Robinson, Composer |
(The) Schoole of Musicke, Movement: Gigue 2 |
Thomas Robinson, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute Thomas Robinson, Composer |
(The) Schoole of Musicke, Movement: My Lord Willobies Welcome Home |
Thomas Robinson, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute Thomas Robinson, Composer |
(The) Schoole of Musicke, Movement: Spanish Pavin |
Thomas Robinson, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute Thomas Robinson, Composer |
Fantasia |
Richard Allison, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute Richard Allison, Composer |
Passymesur Pavan |
Richard Allison, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute Richard Allison, Composer |
Passymesur Galliard |
Richard Allison, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute Richard Allison, Composer |
Preludium |
John Dowland, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute John Dowland, Composer |
Queen Elizabeth's Galliard |
John Dowland, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute John Dowland, Composer |
Lady Clifton's Spirit |
John Dowland, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute John Dowland, Composer |
Lachrimae |
John Dowland, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute John Dowland, Composer |
Frogg galliard |
John Dowland, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute John Dowland, Composer |
Fornlorn Hope Fancy |
John Dowland, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute John Dowland, Composer |
Mrs Anne Markham's Pavan |
Francis Cutting, Composer
Francis Cutting, Composer Joachim Held, Lute |
Galliard |
Francis Cutting, Composer
Francis Cutting, Composer Joachim Held, Lute |
Variations on 'Walsingham' |
Francis Cutting, Composer
Francis Cutting, Composer Joachim Held, Lute |
Packington's Pound |
Francis Cutting, Composer
Francis Cutting, Composer Joachim Held, Lute |
Delight pavan |
John Johnson, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute John Johnson, Composer |
Galliard to Delight pavan |
John Johnson, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute John Johnson, Composer |
Galliard to the Passemeasures pavan |
John Johnson, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute John Johnson, Composer |
First Galliard for the Countess of Sussex |
Philip Rosseter, Composer
Joachim Held, Lute Philip Rosseter, Composer |
Author: Julie Anne Sadie
Held has, however, cleverly chosen to include only works represented in the important lute manuscripts of the 16th-century collector Matthew Holmes at the Cambridge University Library. Thus, this recording reflects Holmes’s taste for both popular music of his day as well as works by lesser-known composers (even if variations on popular tunes), all dating from a 30-year period around the turn of the century, many of which (Allison, Lusher, Johnson, Robinson and Rosseter) have never before been recorded. Among the nicest surprises were John Johnson’s refreshing “Delights” and Rosseter’s lilting First Galliard for the Countess of Sussex.
Held plays on an eight-course Renaissance lute made by Klaus Jacobsen (London), which produces a clear, sweet treble tone and darker, usefully contrasting middle and lower registers. There are accordingly some delightful echo effects in Dowland’s Forlorn Hope Fancy and Cutting’s Packington’s Pound, and many examples of beautifully voiced textures. 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.
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