Gut, Wind and Wire
Gut, Wind and Wire
Artist: The Baltimore Consort
Composers: John Johnson, Ronn McFarlane, Thomas Morley, Cesare Negri, James Oswald, Pierre Phalese, John Playford, Michael Praetorius, Traditional, Thomas Wode
Format: 1 CD
DSL-90601
Mary Anne Ballard, Mark Cudek, Larry Lipkis, Ronn McFarlane, Chris Norman, Mindy Rosenfeld, William Simms (guest artist), Edwin George (guest artist)
This recording will give the Baltimore Consort listeners an overview of its instrumental repertory for the last 26 years.
Fascinated by the variety of timbres that instruments can produce, Renaissance musicians developed a wide variety of sound colors, ranging from the almost vocal sound of the bowed strings to the chirpy, bird-like sound of the high winds, the twang of the wire-strung cittern, and the buzz of the crumhorns. The sixteenth century musician’s love of variety can be seen in the vast array of instruments imitated by organ stops of the period, by surviving instruments and pictures of instruments, and also by eyewitness accounts of the cornucopia of instruments used to provide music for the lavish banquets of royalty. When a group of instruments is played together, whether they be all of the same family or different, a “consort” is formed.
In true English Consort style, the Baltimore Consort, America’s most popular early music ensemble, mixes instruments from different families, The Baltimore Consort was founded to perform instrumental music of Shakespeare’s tie. Although later joined by a singer, the group’s experience of rehearsing purely instrumentally forged its identity as an ensemble dedicated to exploiting the diverse sound colors offered by gut—and wire—strung plucked and bowed strings and transverse and end-blown flutes and recorders, capped reeds and percussion. Hence their newest release: Gut, Wind and Wire. Having expanded upon the musical arrangements of Shakespeare’s contemporaries, The Baltimore Corsort enjoys returning to its origins - the English music for broken consort. The result is music that is an inspiration and a joy, just as it was for listeners in 1600, as witnessed by a poem on the power of music by Richark Edwards:
Where gripinge Grefes the hart would wounde
And dolefulle dumps the mynde oppresse.
There Musick with her silver sond
Is wont with spede to give redresse.
Of troubled minde for every sore.
Swete Musick hath a salve therfore
Track List
1. Scotch Cap 1:56
2. Galliard d’escosse :35
3. Laroque Galliard 1:16
4. Alemande de Liege 1:28
5. Doun in yon bank 1:51
6. The Canaries :52
7. Canaries 1:40
8. All in a Garden Green 1:56
9. Parsons Farewell 1:51
10. Beggar Boy 1:53
11. John Come Kiss Me Now 1:31
12. Newcastle 1:51
13. Branle double :50
14. Branle de Montirade :54
15. Branle de la torche 1:28
16. Johnny Faa 1:01
17. Chanter’s Song :58
18. O’Keefe’s Slide 0:58
19. Sixpenny Money 0:34
20. Ten Penny Bit 0:35
21. Clare Jig 1:17
22. Sycamore 4:26
23. Indigo Road 3:14
24. My Lord of Oxenford’s Maske 1:44
25. The Queen’s Treble 1:54
26. Bianco Fiore 0:55
27. Catena d’amore 1:28
28. So ben mi ch’ha bon tempo 1:38
29. Joyne Hands 1:26
30. Paven 1:39
31. Galliard 1:20
32. Green Garters 2:37
33. Pentland Hills 2:09
34. Whip my Toudie
35. Remember me at Evening 1:55
36. A Scot’s Tune 2:08
Total time: 57:56
Release date: 2007
UPC: 053479060129
“...this very well-recorded collection is an excellent sampling of the tunes, artful arrangements, and expert, entertaining playing style that has pleased audiences for more than a quarter-century—an easy recommendation!”
