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Merry Melancholy - English Lute Music Of The 16th Century / Held

Allison / Robinson / Dowland / Johnson / Held
Release Date: 06/29/2010 
Label:  Hänssler Classic   Catalog #: 98600   Spars Code: DDD 
Composer:  Lushier,  Thomas Robinson,  Richard Allison,  John Dowland,   ... 
Performer:  Joachim Held
Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Stereo 
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Notes and Editorial Reviews

Held shows that the popular music of the 16th century had a certain x-factor.

Held has, however, cleverly chosen to include only works represented in the important lute manuscripts of the 16th-century collector Matthew Holmes at the Cambridge University Library. Thus, this recording reflects Holmes's taste for both popular music of his day as well as works by lesser-known composers (even if variations on popular tunes), all dating from a 30-year period around the turn of the century, many of which (Allison, Lusher, Johnson, Robinson and Rosseter) have never before been recorded. Among the nicest surprises were John Johnson's refreshing "Delights" and Rosseter's lilting First Galliard for the Countess of Read more Sussex.

Held plays on an eight-course Renaissance lute made by Klaus Jacobsen (London), which produces a clear, sweet treble tone and darker, usefully contrasting middle and lower registers. There are accordingly some delightful echo effects in Dowland's Forlorn Hope Fancy and Cutting's Packington's Pound, and many examples of beautifully voiced textures. Held's interpretations are steady but subtly phrased, sparingly ornamented and never indulge in extremes of tempo or rubato. With this recording Held offers us fresh insights into the soundscape of private music-making in the late Elizabethan era.

-- Julie Anne Sadie, Gramophone [Awards Issue, 2010]
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Works on This Recording

1.
Almain by Lushier
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
2.
Go from my Window by Thomas Robinson
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: England 
3.
Gigue by Thomas Robinson
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: England 
4.
My Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home by Thomas Robinson
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
5.
Spanish Pavan by Thomas Robinson
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: England 
6.
Fantasia by Richard Allison
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
7.
Passymeasures Pavan by Richard Allison
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
8.
Passymeasures Galliard by Richard Allison
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
9.
Preludium, P 98 by John Dowland
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: England 
10.
Queene Elizabeth, her Galliard, P 41 by John Dowland
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: England 
11.
Lady Cliftons Spirit, P 45 by John Dowland
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: England 
12.
Lachrimae by John Dowland
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: England 
13.
Frogg Galliard, P 23A by John Dowland
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: England 
14.
Forlorne Hope Fancye, P 2 by John Dowland
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: England 
15.
Galliard to Mrs Anne Markham's Pavan by Francis Cutting
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; England 
16.
Galliard by Francis Cutting
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; England 
17.
Divisions on "Walsingham" by Francis Cutting
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; England 
18.
Divisions on "Packington's Pound" by Francis Cutting
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; England 
19.
Alman by Francis Cutting
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; England 
20.
A paven to delight by John Johnson
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; England 
21.
Delight Galliard by John Johnson
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; England 
22.
Passamezzo Galliard by John Johnson
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
23.
First Galliard for the Countess of Sussex by Philip Rosseter
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)
24.
A fancy by Philip Rosseter
Performer:  Joachim Held (Lute)

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 1 Customer Review )
 Gentlemen's entertainment @ 1600AD June 2, 2012 By S Cohenroellvaneyck (SOUTH WENTWORTHVILLE, NSW) See All My Reviews "Knowing the music from John Dowland, here is added joy by music from Francis Cutting and others well known by players of sheet-music for lute and recorder of that era, late 16th century The style of playing the songs herewith is refreshing, different from known recordings by modulated emphasizing in the rephrasing of repeats, therefore worth acquiring and interesting for listening Comparatively it can be said that "Merry Melancholy", the way of love, (how?) "it is joy but why does it hurt" therefore uplifting and good to hear often" Report Abuse
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