English Ayres by Thomas Campion

Thomas Campion (Composer), Nigel North (Performer), Michael Chance (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Nigel North, Michael Chance
• Composer: Thomas Campion
• Audio CD (March 15, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Linn Records
• ASIN: B00005246C
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,511 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #59 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Partsongs

Track Listings

1. Come, Cheerful Day, Part of My Life to Mee for voice, lute & bass viol

2. Peaceful Westerne Winde, for 3 voices

3. Turn back, you wanton flyer

4. It Fell on a Sommers Daie for voice, lute & bass viol

5. When to her lute Corinna sings

6. Breake now my heart and dye, Oh, no, she may relent, for voice & bass viol

7. My Love Hath Vowed Hee Will Forsake Mee for voice, lute & bass viol

8. I Care Not for These Ladies for voice, lute & bass viol

9. Shall I Come Sweet Love to Thee? for voice, lute & bass viol

10. Fire, Fire, Fire, Fire for voice, lute & bass viol

11. All lookes be pale, harts cold as stone, for voice & bass viol (or 2 voices)

12. Jacke and Jone They Thinke No Ill for voice, lute & bass viol

13. There is a garden in her face

14. Faine Would I Wed a Faire Yong Man for voice, lute & bass viol

15. Sweet Exclude Me Not nor Be Divided for voice, lute & bass viol

16. Could my heart more tongues imploy, for voice & bass viol

17. Kinde Are Her Answers for voice, lute & bass viol

18. A Secret Love for voice, lute & bass viol

19. Beauty Is But a Painted Hell for voice, lute & bass viol

20. Oft Have I Sigh'd for Him That Heares Me Not for voice, lute & bass viol

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, December 23, 2005

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: English Ayres by Thomas Campion (Audio CD)

HUMANITY'S FOIBLES REVEALED BY TOM CAMPION;
SUNG MOST CHARMINGLY BY THE UK'S 'SONG CHAMPIONS'.

THE ENGLISH AYRES, a group organized by lutenist Nigel North and 'devoted exclusively to English Song of the late Seventeenth Century'is made up of three singers: Rachel Elliott (sop), Mark Padmore (tenor) and Peter Harvey (baritone); Michael Chance is the soloist and 'guest' artist on the disc. They are joined by another specialty group, Concordia, which makes use of viols of all shapes and sizes. Most all the tunes are solos and one of the solo highlights is Michael Chance's very moving rendition of 'Never weather-beaten Sail'.

Although Campions' songs are written as solo songs he stated at the time that they may also be enjoyed as part songs. On this CD they are tastefully mixed both vocally and instrumentally. There are trios with soprano, tenor, baritone and lute where the lute is treated almost like another voice part. Each of the singers has a solo or two and Chance has several.

It is also good to keep in mind that Thomas Campion (l567-l620) was a poet as well as a musician who had the capability of putting together the two art forms, words and music. As he says, "lovingly coupled together." From over 100 songs it was difficult to select only 25, but Campion helped us by placing his prize songs often at the beginning of a volume. And it is certainly appropriate to present these chosen songs with varied vocal combinations.

The first song 'Come Cheerful Day' presented most charmingly speaks to the adage: 'In the midst of life, there is death' or vice versa (a trio of soprano(Rachel Elliott), tenor(Mark Padmore) and baritone(Peter Harvey). The second song 'The peaceful westerne winde'(also a trio) speaks of the joys and glories of nature in Spring. True love and its desires 'Turn Backe, you wanton flyer' (countertenor solo) sung most enticingly by Michael Chance. And the fourth song I personally have always taken great delight in hearing, regardless of what type voice sings it; in this case Chance. 'It Fell on a Summer day' involves some feminine subterfuge and male aggressiveness. And who could resist the song 'I care not for these ladies' that speaks of the selfish Amarillis sung so well by Peter Harvey (baritone). Rachel Elliot (soprano) sings of betrayal 'My love hath vowed' and Mark Padmore (tenor) in the song 'Sweet, exclude mee not' bemoans of his forced marriage. And so it goes!!! All of these and more accompanied VERY skillfully by Nigel North and/or Concordia.

This is a superb disc in every way, and if you are a lover of the lute song, you must have this, for it provides an inordinate amount of pleasure!!!