[Hell_Gopher]

If you would like to try some secular songs by Byrd, I heartily recommend

William Byrd - Consort Music and Songs (Fretwork, Emma Kirkby)

Good music, excellent performances, nicely recorded...it's on Harmonia Mundi.

 

[hciman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hell_Gopher If you would like to try some secular songs by Byrd, I heartily recommend William Byrd - Consort Music and Songs (Fretwork, Emma Kirkby) Good music, excellent performances, nicely recorded...it's on Harmonia Mundi.

Also in the cart (for later) - but as I have finite funds it is earmarked for next month, for this month I have settled on Victoria: Requiem - Officium defunctorum and some even earlier stuff viz "The Medieval Experience" any earlier and its banging rocks together

 

[TMHBAT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hciman77 "The Medieval Experience" any earlier and its banging rocks together

Actually, one shouldn't assume that. A number of people have recorded "reconstructions" (using the term somewhat loosely) of the music of several ancient cultures, especially Greek music. These efforts are typically based on very scant and indirect evidence (e.g. paintings, some extant texts, etc.) and involve as much inspired speculation and "feel" for the cultures as anything else, but it seems clear enough that many ancient cultures had music rather more sophisticated that banging rocks together.

Musiques de l'Antiquité Grecque
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/k617069.htm

Music of the Ancient Sumerians, Egyptians and Greeks
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/pnd1005.htm

Music in the Age of the Pyramids
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/nar0010.htm

Secular Music of Greek Antiquity
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/fmr808.htm

Music from Ancient Rome
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/amt1396.htm

 

[Edil]

I like renaissance music but not if it is all vocals or choirs works. Here are a couple of CDs that I own, with the "type" or renaissance music that I like (mostly all instrumental):


Nostradamus: The Music of His Renaissance
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...Fencoding=UTF8

Istanpitta, Vol. 1: A Medieval Dance Band
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=glance&n=5174

Istanpitta, Vol. 2: A medieval Dance Band
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=glance&n=5174

Carlos V -- Alfonso X (el Sabio)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=glance&n=5174

and the one that I like the most:

Joan of Arc: Musical Revelations
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=glance&n=5174


Can some one please recommend more music like that?.

 

[iancraig10]

An interesting off-shoot from (bawdy-like and dance songs) -

Lo Cor de la Plana is a vocal group (Quartet) singing earlyish music. Very entertaining but it is HARD to get hold of their album which is called 'Es lo Titre'. (NordSud label)

I posted on here to get it but no-one responded. I found it in the end on Amazon.fr and bought it there. (You have to speak French though)

Ian

 

[imported_Greg_R]

Try The Antiphonal Music of Gabrieli. This isn't historically accurate (in terms of the instruments used) but I find the album very enjoyable. Recording quality is very good and the playing is exceptional.

 

[Bunnyears]

I have that recording but with a different cover.

 

[Masolino]

Now for a top grade historically correct Gabrieli album:



Giovanni Gabrieli: Sonate e Canzoni 'per concertar con l'organo'
Harmonia mundi France - HMC 901688

 

[Masolino]

A beautiful album (cover, music, recording etc.) of string music
around Gabrieli's time, with focus on the art of embellishments
and improvised variations (pieces by Diego Ortiz are particularly
striking):



Doulce Memoire - Glosas, Passeggiati & Diminutions / H. Perl
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 05472775022

 

[zumaro]

I am going to check Doulce Memoire out - sounds very interesting.

Most beautiful CD I have purchased lately has to be John Browne - Music from the Eton Choirbook.

I think we may have a classic disk here, of some sublimely great music. Browne heads for the sombre more often than not, but the variety of vocal scorings between pieces is quite remarkable.

 

[Masolino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zumaro I am going to check Doulce Memoire out - sounds very interesting. Most beautiful CD I have purchased lately has to be John Browne - Music from the Eton Choirbook. I think we may have a classic disk here, of some sublimely great music. Browne heads for the sombre more often than not, but the variety of vocal scorings between pieces is quite remarkable.

Yes, I agree that the "minor" English masters often get short shrifts when it comes to dedicated recordings, even though I think the Sixteen have also recorded their share of Eton choir books (on now defunct Collins label). Robert Carver, the Scottish master of Renaissance polyphony, used to be totally obscure as well, but is now getting the recognition he deserves, thanks to groups like the Hilliard Ensemble.

 

[Lerman]

I'm currently listening (as in currently, right this second) to a Classical Express (Harmonia Mundi's fantastic discount label) recording of French troubador songs--Chansons de Trouvere. Paul Hillier singing with one lute or similar and maybe a recorder. Great recording, beautiful performance.

Am also quite enamored of Chanticleer's rendition of Byrd's Missa in Tempore Paschale. This is also a Classical Express reissue of an old HM recording--but they gave it a different name--Music from a Well-Lighted Chapel or something? Disc also has a few other Byrd masses. Exceptional recording, in addition to good performance.

Best thing is the price--$7 or $8 at Tower.

 

[Masolino]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lerman I'm currently listening (as in currently, right this second) to a Classical Express (Harmonia Mundi's fantastic discount label) recording of French troubador songs--Chansons de Trouvere. Paul Hillier singing with one lute or similar and maybe a recorder. Great recording, beautiful performance.

Agreed on the quality of the Hillier recording, even though troubador, trouvere or Minnesinger songs (all 12-13th century) are defnitely medieval rather than Renaissance music.

 

[TMHBAT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masolino Now for a top grade historically correct Gabrieli album: Giovanni Gabrieli: Sonate e Canzoni 'per concertar con l'organo' Harmonia mundi France - HMC 901688

Thanks for the tip on this. I'm a fan of Concerto Palatino. The disc is OOP, unfortunately, but I found a single copy in the Amazon.fr Marketplace. Not exactly a bargain, by the time I pay for shipping from France, but I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Lerman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masolino Agreed on the quality of the Hillier recording, even though troubador, trouvere or Minnesinger songs (all 12-13th century) are defnitely medieval rather than Renaissance music.

Oh, dear. Right you are. Sorry for the indelicacy.

Only slightly off topic: For any of you in NY or planning to be, MOMA has a pretty interesting installation--Tallis' Spem in Allium playing on around 30 speakers set up in a circle in a very large room. I mention it because it's about the closest I've ever come to wearing headphones without wearing headphones, if you know what I mean. Completely and utterly immersive (as well as being auditorily hallucinatory, if you'll excuse my mangling of the language). Believe it's a live recording and not one of the above-referenced.

Meant to note earlier: A purely instrumental piece that has some of the lushness and sound massing that makes Spem et alia so rich is Dowland's Lacrimae or Seaven Teares [sic] played in my recording by Jordi Savall and Hesperion XX on Naive. Recommend it.