All At Once Well Met: English Madrigals; The King's Singers

John Dowland (Composer), Thomas Morley (Performer), Thomas Weelkes (Artist), John Wilbye (Artist), William Byrd (Artist), John Farmer (Artist), The King's Singers (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Thomas Morley
• Composer: John Dowland
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002RPZ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,884 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #87 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Songs & Lieder > Madrigals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sumptuous and mellow, November 27, 2002

By 

Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All At Once Well Met: English Madrigals; The King's Singers (Audio CD)

The six men of the King's Singers present sweet and light-hearted madrigals of such English composers as Morley, Weelkes, Dowland, Wilbye and Byrd. The thirty five selections include "Now is the Month of Maying", "Though Philomela Lost Her Love", "Sing We and Chant It," the celebration of tobacco entitled "Come, Sirrah Jack, Ho!" and a host of other fa-la-la-la-la venues interspersed with wistful laments. I love the rich, sonorous sound of a male vocal ensemble, with countertenors, tenor, baritones and bass, and these six singers do a great job. Occasional instrumental accompaniments by lute and tabor are included, but this group doesn't really need it--I could listen to them for hours all by themselves. Also quite enjoyable, as well as educational, is their earlier release, "The King's Singers' Madrigal History Tour: Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany". For a more risque' take on the vocal music of Renaissance England, you might get a kick out of "The Art of the Bawdy Song" by the Baltimore Consort with the Merry Companions.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Collections of English Madrigals, March 26, 2002

By 

Harold T Thomas (Silver Spring, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All At Once Well Met: English Madrigals; The King's Singers (Audio CD)

Any fan of the King's Singers will regret not having this album in their collection.

This album offers a veritable feast of the choicest English madrigals found on any comparable album. From the obligatory "Now is the Month of Maying" and "Fair Phyllis" to the more obscure "Tan ta ra, cries Mars," there is certainly enough on this album to bring a smile to lovers of Renaissance music - and a spark of recognition to anyone who sang traditional madrigals in high school or university. For serious students of early music, this album comes very highly recommended.

Among the more sonorous offerings on this album, Jones' "Farewell, Dear Love" and Dowland's "Come Again," cannot be ignored. Nor can Bennet's immortal "Weep O mine eyes" be matched more musically than here by the King's Singers.

This album has been played again and again for almost 6 years as both serious listening and background working music. And it has yet to lose its delight.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wide variety, April 28, 2000

By 

Andrea Hakari - See all my reviews

This review is from: All At Once Well Met: English Madrigals; The King's Singers (Audio CD)

This is an excellent sampling of English madrigals. This presentation, given by an older roster of the Singers, is a nice introduction to the world of the madrigal, and English madrigals in particular.