Dowland: Ayres
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: John Dowland
Label: Reflexe
Magazine Review Date: 11/1989
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 62
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 749805-2
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| (The) First Book of Songs or Ayres, Movement: Now, O now I needs must part (= The Frog Galliard) |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| (The) First Book of Songs or Ayres, Movement: Go Cristall teares |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| (The) First Book of Songs or Ayres, Movement: His goulden locks time hath to siluer turnd |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| (The) First Book of Songs or Ayres, Movement: Awake sweet loue thou art returnd |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| (The) Second Booke of Songs or Ayres, Movement: A Sheperd in a shade his plaining made |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| (The) Third and Last Book of Songs or Aires, Movement: What if I neuer speede |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| (A) Pilgrimes Solace, Movement: Disdaine me still, that I may euer loue |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| (A) Pilgrimes Solace, Movement: Tell me true Loue |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| (A) Pilgrimes Solace, Movement: Thou mighty God |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| (A) Pilgrimes Solace, Movement: Welcome blacke night |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| (A) Pilgrimes Solace, Movement: Cease these false sports |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
| Lamentatio Henrici Noel |
John Dowland, Composer
Hilliard Ensemble John Dowland, Composer Paul Hillier, Conductor |
Author: David Fallows
It is well-known that many of Dowland's lute songs exist also in four-voice arrangements. In fact most readers of this review will at some time or another have sung some of them in that form from dog-eared choral leaflets: they seem always to have counted as the indispensable foothills to the English madrigal repertory. But recordings have generally preferred to present the works as the solo songs which most of them seem originally to have been. So it was time to have a good supply of these versions on record.
The Hilliard Ensemble present six pieces from the first three books of songs, alongside seven from thePilgrim's Solace (most of which can hardly be performed in any other way). The record also includes Dowland's seven psalm settings in memory of Henry Noel, relatively staid little pieces in which Dowland hardly manages to transcend the limitations of the genre.
The singing is professional and neat, with the skilled accompaniment of Stephen Stubbs on lute and Richard Campbell on viol. Textures are clear and balanced, tempos are always welljudged; and the surprises in the music are pointed without undue stress. Moreover, Paul Hillier manages to dilute the sameness of the Henry Noel psalms by varying their vocal allocation. Lynne Dawson, who sings the top line in virtually everything and shows a remarkable range of well-conceived articulation, contributes some extremely eloquent solo singing in the works from thePilgrim's Solace.
The record comes with full texts and translations for what is sung (a few stanzas are omitted here and there). A lucid and hard-hitting note by Paul Hillier puts everything in perspective.'
The Hilliard Ensemble present six pieces from the first three books of songs, alongside seven from the
The singing is professional and neat, with the skilled accompaniment of Stephen Stubbs on lute and Richard Campbell on viol. Textures are clear and balanced, tempos are always welljudged; and the surprises in the music are pointed without undue stress. Moreover, Paul Hillier manages to dilute the sameness of the Henry Noel psalms by varying their vocal allocation. Lynne Dawson, who sings the top line in virtually everything and shows a remarkable range of well-conceived articulation, contributes some extremely eloquent solo singing in the works from the
The record comes with full texts and translations for what is sung (a few stanzas are omitted here and there). A lucid and hard-hitting note by Paul Hillier puts everything in perspective.'
Dowland: Ayres
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