The Medieval Lady [Single]

Elizabethan Conversation (Artist), Andrea Folan (Soprano), Susan Sandman (medieval instruments), Derwood Crocker (medieval Instruments), Anonymous (Composer), Jane Pickeringe's Lute Book Anonymous (Composer), Blanche of Castile (Composer), Anne Boleyn (Composer), Beatriz de Dia (Composer), Maroie de Dregnau de Lille (Composer), Giles Farnaby (Composer), Richard Farnaby (Composer), Hildegard of Bingen (Composer), Lady Killigrew (Composer), The Lady Dering Mary Harvey (Composer), English Traditional (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Susan Sandman (medieval instruments), Derwood Crocker (medieval Instruments)
• Composer: Anonymous, Jane Pickeringe's Lute Book Anonymous, Blanche of Castile, Anne Boleyn, Beatriz de Dia, et al.
• Audio CD (November 25, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single
• Label: Leonarda Productions
• ASIN: B000004AF3
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,035 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. A chantar m'er de so qu'ieu nos vouria (12th C.) (Beatriz, Countess of Dia)

2. Mout m'abelist quant je voi revenir (13th C.) (Maroie de Dregnau de Lille)

3. Amours, u trop tart me sui pris (Blanche, 1188-1252, Queen of France)

4. Trotto (instrumental, c.1400) (Anonymous)

5. Estampie (instrumental, 13th C.) (Anonymous)

6. In Evangelium (Hildegard of Bingen, 1098-1170)

7. O viridissima virga (Hildegard)

8. O Jerusalem, aurea civitas (Hildegard)

9. Saltarello (instrumental, c.1400) (Anonymous)

10. Saltarello (instrumental, c.1400) (Anonymous)

11. La Manfredina (instrumental, c.1400) (Anonymous)

12. O Deathe rock me asleepe (attributed to Anne Boleyn, 1507-1536)

13. Sweetest love I do not goe (17th C.) (Lady Killigrew)

14. Tower Hill (instrumental) (Giles Farnaby, c.1563-1640)

15. Green Sleeves (instrumental, 16th C.) (Anonymous)

16. When first I saw Fair Dorris' eyes (Mary Harvey, The Lady Dering, 1629-1704)

17. And is this all, what one poor kisse? (Mary Harvey)

18. In vain, fair Chloris, you design (Mary Harvey)

19. La Rosignoll (instrumental, 17th C.) (Anonymous)

20. Nobody's Gigge (Richard Farnaby, b.1594)

Editorial Reviews

Medieval Songs, Dances, Chant & 16th & 17th Century Songs & Lute Duets performed by the ensemble Elizabethan Conversation: Susan Sandman (medieval fiddle, lute, recorder, bass viola da gamba) and Derwood Crocker, (psaltery, nakers, symphonia, organetto, lute and tambourine aux cordes). Guest artist is soprano Andrea Folan. Total Time 64:21. Recorded at Wells College, Aurora, New York, September, 1994. Recording producer/engineer, post production and graphic design: Marnie Hall. DDD. This recording is made possible with public funds from The New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Additional support provided by the Mitch Miller Foundation, Wells College, Dilly Patrick, and a Special Opportunity Stipend from the New York Foundation for the Arts and the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts, Inc. © Leonarda Productions, Inc., 1997. Performing artist Susan Sandman writes: "In keeping with early practices in performance, we have added our own counter-melodies, ornamentation, and, where manuscripts are ambiguous, rhythmic interpretation. The later songs appear more complete in manuscripts. Single-line melodies are replaced with multipart compositions. We perform them in the English lute song style, with voice, lute and bass viola da gamba." Cover Photo and Graphic Design: "Angel with Symphonia," c. 1360, possibly Pisan. Samuel H. Kress Collection, ©1966, Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who says Anonymous wasn't a woman?, September 1, 2002

By 

Maggie Boleyn - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Medieval Lady (Audio CD)

I confess, I purchased this CD to listen to one tune only. I have often run across references to "O Deathe, Rock Me Asleep", in my Renaissance readings, and thought I should finally hear a version of it. The song is attributed to Anne Boleyn, probably written in the Tower in mid May 1536, while awaiting her execution. It is not clear whether George Boleyn, Anne's brother, beheaded two days before his sister, helped with the composition. The two had often worked together on other entertainment in a happier vein.

I have read that the song in both words and composition is not really of an artistic quality, and was tempted to agree on first hearing this very doleful ditty. Despite the heartbreakingly lovely quality of the soprano singing the lyrics and the well played lute and bass accompanying the singer, the song at first hearing can seem to be quite wretched. However, I listened to it again and again, and really must disagree with those who would seek to sever all artistic merit as concerns the composition and wording of the piece.

A sense of impending doom is clearly conveyed in the mournful march of the bass. The wording, well, this is a song about Death and Dying, so the subject rather determines the word choices. (I must add that `misery', `destiny' and `remedy' are all pronounced so as to rhyme with die... die... die... die)

The beautiful soprano voice r-rolls most of the r's, giving a r-rich r-r-regal construction to the song. It was customary never to say aught but good things about the monarch who had sentenced you to death while you were on the scaffold, and this song generally follows that edict. However, a few well placed digs are evident in such phrases as, "my guiltless ghost", and "that I should taste this misery". Altogether a most interesting work.

Good antidotes for this tune can be found in the light "Tower Hill", (if one does not dwell on what often took place on the Tower grounds), and the delightful musical selection "Trotto" would please those who cut their medieval musical teeth on the New World Renaissance Band. The album insert offers thumbnail biographical sketches of all the female composers. That prolific artist, "Anonymous", naturally, does not have a bio. But, Anonymous does contribute to the album, in particularly a very different baroque rendition of "Greensleeves".

Overall Rating: R-r-recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice, August 15, 2005

By 

MLRose "Music lover" (MA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Medieval Lady (Audio CD)

Having studied under both Ms. Sandman and Mr. Crocker in the past, I am not at all surprised by the lovliness of this recording. Their expertise is clearly audible.