Early Music Festival / David Munrow, Early Music Consort

Francesco Landini (Composer), Anonymous (Composer), Magister Piero (Composer), Italian Anonymous (Composer), Antonio Zaccara da Teramo (Composer), Giovanni Da Firenze (Composer), Lorenzo da Firenze (Composer), Jacopo da Bologna (Composer), Claudio Monteverdi (Composer), Luca Marenzio (Composer), Cristofano Malvezzi (Conductor), Emilio de' Cavalieri (Conductor), Costanzo Festa (Performer), Bartolomeo Tromboncino (Performer), Giovanni Domenico del Giovane da Nola (Performer), Marchetto Cara (Performer), David Munrow (Performer), John Beckett (Performer), James Bowman (Artist), Nigel Rogers (Artist), Martin Hill (Artist), John Frost (Artist), Janita Noorman (Artist), Grayston Burgess (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Costanzo Festa, Bartolomeo Tromboncino, Giovanni Domenico del Giovane da Nola, Marchetto Cara, David Munrow, et al.
• Conductor: Cristofano Malvezzi, Emilio de' Cavalieri
• Composer: Francesco Landini, Anonymous, Magister Piero, Italian Anonymous, Antonio Zaccara da Teramo, et al.
• Audio CD (July 14, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000009DFX
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,397 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #94 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Songs & Lieder > Madrigals

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Ecco la primavera, ballata for 2 voices, S. 58

2. Lamento di Tristano, estampie

3. Giunta vaga biltà, ballata for 3 voices, S. 125

4. Questa fanciulla, Amor, ballata for 3 voices (also instrumental version), S. 116

5. Trotto, dance for instrumental ensemble

6. Deh, dimmi tu, madrigal for 3 voices, S. 216

7. Con dolce brama

8. Due saltarelli

9. Rosetta che non canbi may colore, balatta for 2 voices

10. Quan je voy le duc

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. La favola d'Orfeo, opera, SV 318: Toccata

2. Sinfonia à 5

3. Belle ne fe natura, villanella for 3 voices (Il primo libro delle villanelle a 3 voci)

4. Chi dal delfino aita, madrigal for 6 voices

5. Se nelle voci nostre, madrigal for 12 voices

6. O figlie di Piero, madrigal for 18 voices

7. Dal vago e bel sereno à 6

8. O qual risplende nube, à 6

9. Godi, turba mortal, madrigal for soprano & 4 instruments

10. O fortunato giorno, à 30

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Munrow is magnificent, November 19, 2001

By 

Glen Pettigrove (Riverside, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Early Music Festival / David Munrow, Early Music Consort (Audio CD)

The first disc in this collection is delightful. David Munrow's recorder is a genuine treat. The vocal parts blend well and create a festive atmosphere. The Early Music Consort of London offer a splendid performance. By contrast, the second disc, which features Musica Reservata, is a bit disappointing. Two of the solo voices on disc two are harsh, detracting from an otherwise pleasant recording. They may fairly represent the performing style of sixteenth century Florence, but that is small consolation for the twentieth century ear. Nonetheless, the virtues of the first disc are sufficient to warrant purchasing this collection. Munrow is magnificent.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars boccacio would be proud, April 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Early Music Festival / David Munrow, Early Music Consort (Audio CD)

this is a superb recording of early music it is well performed and played. the first cd is all music from the 1300,s and the second is from the 1500,s if you like the kind of music this is the cd to get well worth it.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ahh, Florence!!, October 13, 2002

By 

W. M. Robbins "The Badger" (The Beautiful Blue Ridge) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Early Music Festival / David Munrow, Early Music Consort (Audio CD)

Italian culture during the period from the 14th to the 16th centuries was a whirlwind of developing literature and art, and during this period of history Florence was a political and cultural center to rival Milan or Verona.
I love medieval and renaissance music. They are the "roots" of the great classics centuries later. One does not cultivate a complete education of art by studying only such Masters as Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso, Dali etc. So it is with fine music.
These CD's contain examples of Florentine musical composition from the 1300's and 1500's. The first CD, performed by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort, covers compositions from the 1300's, with many of the works of Francesco Landini, the most prolific Florentine composer of this period. The second covers music from the 1500's and is performed by John Beckett and the Musica Reservata. Here we can see the early development of both symphonic structure and opera.
Both discs are wonderful examples of different periods in the history of musical development, and performed by different conductors and artists. Therefore a comparison between the two is unfair and misplaced. David Munrow and the Early Music Consort are superb, as I have always found them to be, and John Beckett and the Musica Reservata are equally enjoyable.
If you appreciate early music you will find this recording to be a fantastic addition to your collection, and perhaps the definitive collection of early Italian music. If you are unfamiliar with early music or with Italian Renaissance music then these CD's would be a wonderful introduction.