Customer Reviews

The Scottish Lute

5 star:		(6)
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Ronn McFarlane is the perfect man for the job. These pieces for the lute and mandora are what you'd expect from the time and place they were written. Surprising how many of the tunes sound like they were written yesterday. On some you may want to kick up yer heels a wee bit. Sonically, this CD is a gem; crystal clear sound. I've lent this to several persons and so far I've heard no complaints. McFarlane's Dowland CD is highly recommended also.

As I keep saying, I have never heard a poor performance on a Dorian label, and their record remains intact with The Scottish Lute (DOR-90129) and Highland King: the Scottish Lute, Vol. II) (DOR-90257). Between the two, lutist Ronn McFarlane give us no less than 100 short excerpts from the different "Lute Books" that were so popular in the 15th to 17th centuries. There are even some examples of music for the mandora, half the size and an octave higher than a lute. This does not demand intense concentration and is excellent ambient music for relaxing or giving parties. I do wish, however, that more comprehensive notes were included and the multilingual text done away with to make room for them. But the playing is masterful and both CDs are highly recommended.

Although the late 16th and early 17th centuries are regarded as the Golden Age of English Lute Music, and that of the Continent progressed likewise in invention and complexity, the lute in Scotland long retained the simplicity of an earlier time -- as evinced by the pieces on this recording, of which there are no less than 56, few longer than two minutes in length.

It might be supposed that such a programme would quickly become boring, but the artist has planned it very intelligently, switching to a mandora for some pieces, and varying the mood with skill.

However, for my money, the best lute recording by Ronn McFarlane is definitely the superb Between Two Hearts.

UPDATE

There is now also a Volume 2.

I enjoyed Mr McFarlane's playing with the Baltimore Consort, so I gave this CD a try. It's filled with many beautiful, haunting melodies. The playing is flawless and the sound quality is wonderful. It sounds like you're sitting in some old cathedral listening to this ancient music. And as with all the recordings I have from the Dorian label, the liner notes are packed with good reading and photos of the instruments used. Highly recommend.

I purchased this album about a year ago and love it. Some of the songs are better than others, but overall it is an excellent album. I would recommend this to anyone who loves the lute and loves historical music.

I'm a Baroque musician and also a massage therapist. This is one of the CD's I use when I do massage; I've heard it now hundreds of times, and it still delights. Some very haunting, beautiful passages and excellent throughout. I agree with the other reviewer's assessment that I've never heard a bad performance on a Dorian recording.