Notes and Editorial Reviews
Following a long tradition--one that thrives today--of re-setting original vocal works for various instrumental solos or ensembles, the early music group Musica Antiqua of London chooses six madrigals and chansons from 16th century Italy and presents them anew, applying as closely as possible performance guidelines spelled out in contemporary treatises. One such "instructional manual" is Sylvestro Ganassi's La Fontegara. Published in 1535, it gives highly detailed directions specifically for recorder playing and how it should conform to the ideal expressive capacities of the human voice. Indeed, in certain exalted musical circles during this time, it was the voice--and the words it was capable of articulating--that was regarded as
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the most perfect vehicle for musical expression. Thus, director Philip Thorby and his colleagues apply lots of ornamentation, improvisatory runs and chordal flourishes, trills, vibrato effects, and timbral and dynamic variations to their multiple renditions of tunes such as La Spagna, Ancor che col partire, and Susanne ung jour. They also deliver a more or less straight reading of Adrian Willaert's madrigal Cantai or piango in a setting for six viols--this followed by a brilliant improvisatory rendition of the same piece for solo recorder (played by Thorby) accompanied by lute. There's a lot of variety among the arrangements as the players intelligently and with no small degree of musicological authority employ various viols, recorders, lute, and chamber organ. And much of the music is quite affecting, especially the two viol consort pieces, led by the outstanding Alison Crum. No, this probably doesn't rank as an essential recording, even for early music specialists, but the high standard of playing, the thoughtfulness of the programmatic choices, and the tasteful interpretations make for satisfying entertainment and a worthy venture off well-worn traditional paths. The sound, from the National Centre for Early Music in York, England, is excellent, too.
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
La Spagna by Anonymous
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
2.
La Spagna by Ebreu,
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
3.
La spagna by Vincenzo Capirola
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
4.
La Spagna by Diego Ortiz
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
5.
Ancor che co'l partire by Giovanni Bassano
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
Written: Italy
6.
Anchor che col Partire by Girolamo Dalla Casa
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
Written: by 1584; Italy
7.
Regole, passaggi di musica, madrigali et motetti passeggiati: Ancor che col partire by Giovanni Batt. Bovicelli
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
Written: by 1594; Italy
8.
Ancor che col partire by R. Rogniono
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
9.
Cantai or piango by Adrian Willaert
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
10.
Cantai or piango by Giacomo Ganassi
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
11.
Susanne un jour by Lupi,
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
12.
Susanne un jour by Giovanni Bassano
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
Written: Italy
13.
Passaggi on `Susanna un jour' by Francesco Rognoni
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
14.
Susanne un jour by Girolamo Dalla Casa
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
15.
Petit Jacquet by Giovanni Antonio Terzi
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
16.
Vestiva i colli by Girolamo Dalla Casa
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
17.
Vestiva i colli by Bassani,
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Renaissance
18.
Vestiva i colli by B. Selma y Salaverde
Conductor:
Philip Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Musica Antiqua of London
Period: Baroque
Featured Sound Samples
Ancor che col partire (Bassano)
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