Songs from the Labyrinth

John Dowland (Composer), Sting (Performer), Edin Karamazov (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Sting, Edin Karamazov
• Composer: John Dowland
• Audio CD (October 10, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000HXDESU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (191 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,109 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Renaissance (c.1450-1600) > Composers
  • #6 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Strings > Lute
  • #75 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > General Modern

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In choosing to cover the music of John Dowland (1563-1626), who is known as the "melancholy madrigalist" from his output of cheerful ditties like "Flow My Tears," Police bandleader Sting has entered into a whole new realm of austere eeriness. Originally inspired by the gift of a lute, the rock superstar and activist sings the songs, deliciously sweet and tender or spirited by turn, accompanying himself, with Edin Karamazov sitting on lute and archlute. For listeners accustomed to hearing material of this period interpreted by rigorously trained early music stylists, especially countertenors and the like, Sting's sometimes tight-jawed, chest-heavy vocals may seem amateurish. It's undeniable that in four-part harmonies, the singer, tightly overdubbed, comes across like a combination of the Swingle Singers and Queen (meaning Freddy Mercury and crew, NOT the first Elizabeth). But it's important to remember that music of this period was routinely heard as a casual diversion in private homes, even more often than at Court. It was considered a crucial social skill to be able to join in with an adequate degree of skill, but not everyone was able to negotiate the perilous melodic twists and turns typical of the era's music. With this in mind, the overall effect is of a candle-lit, postprandial entertainment in the home of an English gentleman. Muttered readings from Dowland's letters and brief snippets of sampled birdsong aside, it is a courageous effort, displaying heartfelt admiration for the composer and a considerable degree of earnest charm. --Christina Roden

Product Description

Sting’s Songs From The Labyrinth is an album of 17th century music composed by John Dowland and performed on the lute, an ancient acoustic guitar. After being given a lute nearly two years ago as a gift, Sting became fascinated and immersed himself with the instrument and the history of lute music. Reminded of his almost 25 year long enthrallment with the works of John Dowland, the Elizabethan composer who wrote songs for the lute, Sting has recorded a new album of vocal and lute music. All songs were composed by Dowland in the 17th century, but have been given new life in these fresh new recordings by Sting. Sting not only sings all the songs (accompanied by leading lutenist Edin Karamasov, who appears on two Andreas Scholl albums), but also plays lute on two instrumental duets with Edin and reads short extracts from a fascinating autobiographical letter by Dowland. Sting has also written a brilliant account of the album's genesis, along with notes on the individual tracks, which serves as the CD booklet.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The art of the Lutenist in Sting's Songs From the Labyrinth, November 11, 2006

By 

Rebecca Huston "telynor" (On the Banks of the Hudson) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Songs from the Labyrinth (Audio CD)

When I heard that Sting was coming out with a new collection of music, I tried to stop my giddy grin, and went on and preordered it. When I opened it up, I was hit with a bit of surprise. For one, it was released on the Deusche Grammophon label, which usually devote themselves to classical works. Looking closer I saw that it was not an array of pop songs, but rather a review of the works of John Dowland.

Oh boy, am I in for an adventure! I thought and eager ripped off the packaging and into the cd player it goes.

I was enchanted right from the start. The singing is wonderful, there was only one really bad track, and even Sting reading from one of Dowland's letters to an influential courtier at James I's court was interesting. There's a haunting quality to the songs, music written by a man who was an outsider in the land of his birth (Dowland was a catholic in a fiercely protestant England), and from what the letter tell us, a man who was living on the edge between being comfortable and poverty.

Not all of the songs are great, and there are several real clunkers in this -- for me, I detested listening to Can she excuse my wrongs? but several others are haunting in their beauty and touch of melancholy. Slipped in between the musical selections is Sting reading from a letter of Dowland's, written in 1595, to an influential courtier in Queen Elizabeth's court, and Dowland is hoping that he can gain the patronage of Lord Robert so that he can gain employment and return to England. While at first, it feels odd to have the readings in there, but eventually you get a cohesiveness that makes Dowland's story all the more poignant.

The liner notes contain the text of the letter, song lyrics, an extensive essay from Sting talking about how he came to the music of Dowland and his study of the lute, and its bigger brother, the archlute. Several photographs are included as well, and the design is very beautiful throughout.

No, it's not a perfect album. Very few are, and there are always several clunkers it seems, and this one is no different. However, for sheer exhurberance, I give this one a solid five stars -- it's bold, it's something new, and I do have to applaud Sting for getting out there and stepping out of his role as a pop icon and trying something new.

No, not everyone is going to like it. Quite a few will hate this one, but if you want to hear music of the Renaissance performed by a masterclass musician, go on and give this one a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

140 of 163 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If you like this, please consider, October 14, 2006

By 

bold_strummer (New Haven, CT United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Songs from the Labyrinth (Audio CD)

"John Dowland: Songs for Tenor and Lute" by Nigel Rogers with Paul O'Dette on Virgin Classics, there's really no comparison technically or interpretively. Sting get's an A for effort and also an A for putting his reputation on the line in the name of a beautiful repretoire. As a lifetime lover of this music, I am thrilled to see Sting take it on as another "cause". If this cd turns on just one person to lute or classical guitar music, I say great.

As another musician/reviewer suggests, if you forget that you are listening to Sting the results seem amateurish and student-like, but the truth is that you are listening to Sting and that of course changes everything! In Sting's defense, it's true these are not operatic arias but rather intimate art songs, they are pop songs of sorts and they do mark the beginning of a long line of self-expressive songwriting that does include Sting himself. Glad they at least found a roadie who could tune a lute :)

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Haunting, Beautiful, October 14, 2006

By 

Simon Donnybrook (Kansas City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs from the Labyrinth (Audio CD)

You're missing the point if you criticize Sting for making this album. To paraphrase the man himself, these songs are not sacrosanct. In fact, to the purists who fault him for making this gentle, yet yes, self-indulgent album: it sometimes takes an artist like Sting to revive a genre or composer so the work does not fade into oblivion. Though Sting is a better bass player than guitarist or lutenist, the playing on this album is beautiful. The reverence for the music is there without being overbearing. Sting makes a powerful statement for the pure joy of...melancholy. Excellent work. Buy it. Indulge.