A Choice Collection

Matthew Locke (Composer), Nicola Matteis (Composer), Thomas Baltzar (Composer), John Weldon (Composer), English Traditional (Composer), John [Organ] Blow (Composer), Henry [Composer] Butler (Composer), John [Composer] Banister (Composer), Palladian Ensemble (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Palladian Ensemble
• Composer: Matthew Locke, Nicola Matteis, Thomas Baltzar, John Weldon, English Traditional, et al.
• Audio CD (April 30, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Linn Records
• ASIN: B00000399T
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,110 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Suite, for 3 viols, 3 theorbos & continuo No. 6 in D major (Broken Consort I/6): Fantazie

2. Suite, for 3 viols, 3 theorbos & continuo No. 6 in D major (Broken Consort I/6): Courant

3. Suite, for 3 viols, 3 theorbos & continuo No. 6 in D major (Broken Consort I/6): Ayre

4. Suite, for 3 viols, 3 theorbos & continuo No. 6 in D major (Broken Consort I/6): Saraband

5. Sett of Ayres in F major: Preludio - Prestissimo

6. Sett of Ayres in F major: Sarabanda - Adagio

7. Sett of Ayres in F major: Gavotta con divisiono

8. Preludio in ostinatione

9. Andamento malinconico

10. John come kiss me now

11. Sett of Ayres in D major: Overture

12. Sett of Ayres in D major: Minuet

13. Sett of Ayres in D major: Almain

14. Sett of Ayres in D major: Corant

15. Sett of Ayres in D major: Two in one on a Ground

16. Old Simon the King

17. Ground for 2 violins & continuo in G minor

18. Variations on Callino Casturame

19. Divisions on a Ground

20. Suite in E minor, Book 4, Nos. 21-29: Bizzararrie sopra un basso Matinconico

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Choice Indeed, February 18, 2000

By 

J. M. Marks (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Choice Collection (Audio CD)

I have listened to this disc over and over for weeks on end. The playing is fabulous - spirited, informed, and with the fine sense of ensemble that one expects from the best string quartets. The repertoire is fascinating and entertaining. This is the perfect album to play when you get home after a really hard day. It restores my faith in Western Civilization. Order it today and I guarantee that you will become a fan of The Palladian Ensemble.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No joy in Mudville for me, March 17, 2006

By 

J. C Clark "eanna" (Overland Park, KS United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Choice Collection (Audio CD)

I bought this knowing nothing of the Palladian Ensemble other than the glowing review here. This is an era I enjoy, a unique collection of instruments, and I'm always on the lookout for the unknown. The playing is spirited, especially the viola da gamba--wow!, and the recording is certainly expressive, (maybe a bit too expressive; sometimes that recorder sounds as if it is whistling inside my head.) But I have given this CD at least twenty listens, and the compositions have failed to grab me. I believe Purcell the neglected genius of Western music, so I know the flavor. But while this is all pleasant enough and a few pieces do really shine, the vast majority of it falls into the charming background music. Nice enough to have on, good for cooking to or encouraging conversation, but the heart is just not there.

That is not to say there are not delights all over. These are mostly sprightly and elegant tunes. Sometimes they hit it spot on. The string playing is a marvel. But they do not grab the soul, shake it, and not let go. They dissipate all too readily, leaving nothing but a vaguely pleasant memory.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not quite there, February 15, 2007

By 

Ross Kennett "Ross Kennett" (Narooma, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Choice Collection (Audio CD)

I ordered this CD as I was impressed with Palladian's CD " Held by the Ears". I found it a very successful program of music beautifully played ; a mix of Ayres by Nicola Matteis and trad/anon Scots tunes and ayres. This CD also has Ayres by Matteis and other works by lesser English composers of the period , they are all well played but taken as a program it all falls a bit flat. The Matteis is not as lively and jolly as that on "Held by the Ears", two movements are designated malinconico. The other composers have fallen into obscurity, possibly for good reason. There is one track by anon, "Old Simon the King", which provides 2 min of superb recorder playing.
I don't think this program quite works, even though the playing of it is excellent.