Customer Reviews

The English Viol

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To put the record straight, this CD does NOT contain any violin music at all. Most of the pieces are viol consorts, which is something completely different: Fretwork is a seven-player ensemble in which all the musicians play differently-sized viols or violas da gamba, this instrument belonging, despite its cello-like appearance, to a completely different family of instruments from the violin. The CD is one of the very few samplers in the Virgin Veritas Edition, being taken from several CDs that Fretwork published between 1988 and 1994. The tracks are in more or less chronological order, beginning with music from the age of Elizabeth I (reigned from 1558 to 1603) and tracing the development of the typically English viol consort through to the end of the 17th century when it experienced its climax and swansong in the person of no less than Henry Purcell, a pupil of Locke who is also represented here. The six vocal numbers here (two solos each by boy treble Jeremy Budd and countertenor Michael Chance, one by lovely soprano Catherine Bott and the second part of the "Cries of London" by Red Byrd, a mixed vocal ensemble)provide something of a contrast and are definitely not meant to be the main item on the disc. Listening to consort music requires an appreciation of this kind of music and of the instruments, the CD booklet could have been more helpful here - it gives no details of the instruments and only very vague details of who is playing when. But the sound is gorgeous, and anyone who would like to get to know this kind of music is encouraged to give this a try. Or, of course, you could try to get hold of the original Fretwork albums from which these sampler tracks were taken. In the meantime, their recordings of Byrd and Dowland have been re-released at budget price.

This is a sampler of music from the earlier recordings of the ensemble Fretwork, the most highly acclaimed viola da gamba consort of our times. It includes polyphonic fantasies for gamba quartet and quintet, as well as selections from the curious repertoire of music for voices and gambas, such as the fairly well-known "Cries of London", which blend street sounds and ballad elements with elegant gamba counterpoint. If you're unacquanted with any of the late English Renaissance music for viola da gamba, this would be a good starter CD. Otherwise, I'd suggest going straight to a search through the recordings of Tye, Locke, Lawes, Holborne, etc. by two ensembles: FRETWORK and PHANTASM

The edition of this CD is surely an abridged one, because I used to have the original edition which included "The Crye of London", Parts 1 AND 2. This edition only has part 2, which is a real shame, because the part 1 is just wonderful, although badly miked. The voices sound so much like real street characters (my favorite - "Periwinkles, quick, quick quick!"). Makes you think of "Who Will Buy" from the London cast of "Oliver". The rest of the CD is quite sublime, from the melancholy "Singing Swans" to the fantasias and madrigals.
The perfect record to listen to while reading "Man's Illegal Life" by Keith Heller, which I've reviewed in Amazon books.

I bought this cd because I like all the composers that are on it. But when I listened to it I was dissapointed that there were only 7 songs. The rest are violin ensembles. (hence the name viols)They are beautiful, and played excellently.But after a while they all sound the same. I heard and loved "This is the record of John" by Orlando Gibbons,on another cd, I hoped to hear more songs from him on this one,The "Cryes of London" on this was great,I have wanted to hear it for quite awhile and enjoyed it along with "Silver Swanse". Also Jeremy Budd, who is I think my favorite treble, did well in "Cryes of London" and the first song "The dark is my delight". On the description of this cd all the tracks were described "Fretwork-with..then named all the people connected with it" that is why I was under the impression there would be more singing. Other than that it is a great cd. and do reccomend it to anyone that enjoys music from that time period. Roughly the 1500s.