Magic: Flanders Recorder Quartet and Friends

Lieven Termont (Performer), Diego Ortiz (Composer), William [Composer] Byrd (Composer), English Anonymous (Composer), Italian Anonymous (Composer), Josquin Desprez (Composer), Tylman Susato (Composer), Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (Composer), Richard Farrant (Composer), Nathaniel Pattrick (Composer), Pedro de Araujo (Composer), Loyset Compere (Composer), Anonymous (Composer), John [Composer] Bennet (Composer), Steve Dugardin (Performer), Ewald Demeyere (Performer), Jan Caals (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Lieven Termont, Steve Dugardin, Ewald Demeyere, Jan Caals
• Composer: Diego Ortiz, William [Composer] Byrd, English Anonymous, Italian Anonymous, Josquin Desprez, et al.
• Audio CD (December 12, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Opus 111
• ASIN: B00004YW1O
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,977 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Recercada Primera Sobre El Passamezzo Antiguo & Recercada Ottava Sobre La Folia

2. Ye Sacred Muses

3. Estampie

4. Saltarello

5. Mille Regretz/Les Miens Aussi Brief

6. Pavana Lachrimae

7. Ballo Del Granduca

8. O Jove, From Stately Throne

9. Prepare To Die

10. Batalha

11. Scaramella Fa La Galla

12. Scaramella

13. Complain With Tears

14. Eliza, Her Name Gives Honour

15. Recercada Segunda Sobre 'O Felici Occhi Miei'

16. Recercada Segunda Sobre El Passamezzo Moderno

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, December 4, 2001

By 

Ohmi "b__2" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic: Flanders Recorder Quartet and Friends (Audio CD)

The Flanders Recorder Quartet (FRQ) are the finest group of recorder players working today. This CD tells you why. Their virtuosity shines in almost every track, even when playing an accompanying role to the fine singers that joined them on some of the tracks.

The FRQ play wonderful instruments made for them by the world's best makers. They used 17 of the 100+ they own in this recording. Balancing their high-pitch instruments (sopranos and higher) with their low pitch instruments is a key part of this CD - they pick the right mix of recorders for each track and arranged the tracks so that you get the full experience and don't get too tired of one particular set of sounds.

For pure recorder playing, Sweelink's Ballo del Gran Duca is my favorite. It is played with "high-low" recorders that balance the sweetness of the upper part with a full but sonorous bass. It is amazing how full a 4-part piece can sound. The "low" recorders are used with great effect with the emotional laments accompanying the singers.

The mixed ensembles produce some great results. In particular the Saltarello and the Recercade No. 1 show what good things happen when pluckers and bangers join in. The 12-minute Saltarello in doubly amazing in that it was an improvisation.

CDs can only hold so much music - look to their other recordings to learn that FRQ has mastered the recorder literature from medieval to modern.

One more point in favor of this CD - the liner notes are substantial and informative. In particular, you can match an instrument you hear to a performer.

Buy this CD - you won't be disappointed.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, March 19, 2011

By 

Carme (Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic: Flanders Recorder Quartet and Friends (Audio CD)

One of the best recordings I ever heard. The choice of the pieces, the quality of the intepretation, group. The versions on Diego Ortiz pieces are just wonderful.