Est 1923

Musical Banquet

Superb survey of one of the most remarkable anthologies of its time

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: John Dowland, Robert Dowland

Genre:

Vocal

Label: ECM New Series

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 73

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: 4766397

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Passava Amor su arco desarmado (Anon. Spanish) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
Lady if you so spight me John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Dovrò dunque morire? (Caccini) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Amarilli mia bella (Caccini) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Si le parler et le silence (Guédron, wds. Anon) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Se di farmi morire (Megli) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: O eyes, leave off your weeping (Hales, wds. ascr. Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Vuestros ojos tienen d'Amor (Anon. Spanish) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: In a grove most rich of shade (Tessier, wds. Sidne Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
Galliards, Movement: The Right Honourable Lady Rich, her Galliard, P43 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Go, my flock, go get you hence (Anon, wds. Sidney) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: O bella più (Anon. Italian) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: My heavy sprite (Holborne, wds. George, Earl of Cu Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
Gailliard John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: To plead my faith (Bacheler, wds. Robert, Earl of Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Ce penser qui sans fin tirannise ma vie (Guédronn) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: O dear life, when shall it be? (Anon, wds. Sidne Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
Galliards, Movement: The Lord Viscount Lisle (Sir Robert Sidney) his Galliard, P38 John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Change thy mind since she doth change (Martin, wdsEarl of Essex) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
Sir Thomas Monson, his Pavin Robert Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
Sir Thomas Monson, his Galliard Robert Dowland, Composer
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Vous que le Bonheur rappelle (Gueron, wds. Anon) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
In darknesse let mee dwell John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Sta notte mi sognava (Anon. Italian) Robert Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland, Composer
Farre from triumphing court John Dowland, Composer
John Dowland, Composer
Monika Mauch, Soprano
Nigel North, Lute
Robert Dowland’s Musicall Banquet needs no introduction, except to remark on the irresistible challenge it poses for the singer – mastering four very different idioms, French, Italian, Spanish and English. By that I mean not the pronunciation (though Monica Mauch seems equally at ease in each) but the audibly different musical styles. But it’s the quality of these songs that’s so striking: no wonder the guiding hand has been detected of Robert’s father, John, who knew a good song when he heard (or wrote) one.

Mauch has a clear but beautifully rounded timbre, and excels at creating an intimate atmosphere. I particularly like her unobtrusive but telling crescendos on single notes. It’s hard to say where she’s most at home, for there’s at least one song in each language that captures the idiom perfectly. To anybody who’s had to sit through endless entrance exams’ worth of “Amarilla mia bella”, I can promise nothing but pleasure from Mauch’s reading; the ending in particular is exquisite. The vocal pyrotechnics are perhaps more difficult to bring off in the airs de cours than elsewhere, since they must breathe not virtuosity but detachment, almost reluctance; Mauch manages this perfectly also. In the English set, only “O eyes, leave off your weeping” strikes an uncertain note. “Farre from triumphing court” achieves a mesmerising sense of repose, close to the air de cour, but with just the right hint of world-weariness.

Nigel North is in tune with Mauch’s moods, and though he seldom draws attention to himself, his solo turns are most stylish and pick out contrapuntal lines with little apparent effort. The recorded sound matches the interpretations for warmth, space and detail. This will certainly be on my personal short list for pick of the year.

Musical Banquet

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Passava Amor su arco desarmado (Anon. Spanish)

Lady if you so spight me

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Dovrò dunque morire? (Caccini)

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Amarilli mia bella (Caccini)

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Si le parler et le silence (Guédron, wds. Anon)

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Se di farmi morire (Megli)

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: O eyes, leave off your weeping (Hales, wds. ascr.

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Vuestros ojos tienen d'Amor (Anon. Spanish)

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: In a grove most rich of shade (Tessier, wds. Sidne

Galliards, Movement: The Right Honourable Lady Rich, her Galliard, P43

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Go, my flock, go get you hence (Anon, wds. Sidney)

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: O bella più (Anon. Italian)

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: My heavy sprite (Holborne, wds. George, Earl of Cu

Gailliard

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: To plead my faith (Bacheler, wds. Robert, Earl of

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Ce penser qui sans fin tirannise ma vie (Guédronn)

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: O dear life, when shall it be? (Anon, wds. Sidne

Galliards, Movement: The Lord Viscount Lisle (Sir Robert Sidney) his Galliard, P38

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Change thy mind since she doth change (Martin, wdsEarl of Essex)

Sir Thomas Monson, his Pavin

Sir Thomas Monson, his Galliard

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Vous que le Bonheur rappelle (Gueron, wds. Anon)

In darknesse let mee dwell

(A) Musicall Banquet, 1610, Movement: Sta notte mi sognava (Anon. Italian)

Farre from triumphing court

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