Customer Reviews

Folksongs

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ALFRED DELLER AND SON MARK PROVIDE A TUNEFUL RENDITION OF SOME INTERESTING FOLK SONGS!
Truly the value of a 'work' must be its ability to resist the passage of time. Although it is impossible to give even approximate dates to the songs Alfred Deller has assembled for this record, we do know that they are all very old! The references to knights in armour, hinds, the importance of nature, the sun and small birds, a simple tailor or weaver,the simplicity and artlessness of the love stories all permit us to place them between the 13th and 17th centuries.

In England attempts to collect the largest possible number of folk songs has been going on for years. Composers of the Golden Age of English music made frequent use of popular music and Alfred Deller,himself, discovered "The Three Ravens" and "The Oak and the Ash". In the quest for new musical experiences, it is good to know that a source of popular music existed in England to enrich the experience of serious composers.

One has to mention here that Alfred Deller also paved the way for a generation of countertenors; he 'broke the ice' so to speak for their inclusion in the musical world as a separate performing entity; not just an added part in choral music. He, along with his son Mark, have put together a truly charming and interesting recording. The voices are very much alike and I find it somewhat difficult to separate them, except of course, when they are soloing. The singing is skillful and musically correct; and the diction is flawless.

While Deller's voice is not MY favoite countertenor voice; it is deep, strong and somewhat "hooty". James Bowman sings in much the same manner. I prefer the more resonant, full and ethereal voice as in Michael Chance and Derek Ragin. But Deller and Bowman have a large contingent of fans who would not agree with me. But this disc is so pleasant to listen to , that vocal preference is not that important. So if you like a good collection of interesting songs sung very well,this is it!!!!!

This is what a counter tenor should sound like. Light and flexible voice with a real grasp of the music.

If you like traditional British Isles folk songs, and you're considering this CD to either round-out your collection or because you want a good male vocal rendition of some of your old favorites, first make sure you understand what countertenor is as a vocal style. Associated with the English madrigals of the Renaissance, it's a very peculiar style, and not everyone's cup of tea. Listen to some countertenor samples from other CDs available at amazon before you buy this. If you like Pete Seeger, early Joan Baez, The Tarriers, The Weavers, Pentangle, Fairport Convention, The Baltimore Consort, The Toronto Consort, and most other British, Irish, and American folk groups you've heard since the sixties, this MAY NOT be for you. Even if your taste runs back to the sixteenth century or earlier, this STYLE may not be for you. I found out the hard way, and I'm writing this now so you won't have to.