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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Traditional and Modern Carols from New College Oxford
Choir of New College Oxford | 
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| |  | 16th Century Music for Viols
The Rose Consort of Viols ‘Precisely balanced, warm-sounding……… on splendid form’. (Gramophone) ‘Fretwork play together beautifully’ (Gramophone) |
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| |  | Mary and Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey‘Sisters in hope of the Resurrection’
The Choir of Westminster Abbey, James O’Donnell Our second October release from Westminster Abbey tells the story of the religious and political turmoil that engulfed England in the sixteenth century, and from which composers of liturgical music could find no escape. They were forced to follow the changing edicts about permitted texts as the pendulum of power oscillated between traditional and reformed religion. Interestingly, this period saw the greatest flowering of church music in England’s history; some of the most magnificent works of the age are recorded here. November 1558 is the chronological centrepoint of this disc. The first half of the programme consists of music performed (not necessarily in all cases composed) during Mary’s reign; the second half, beginning with the evening canticles from Sheppard’s Second Service, explores something of the immense variety of sacred music produced during the subsequent, much longer and more celebrated reign of Mary’s Protestant half-sister. |
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| |  | listen: | | John Bennet: Venus' birds whose mournful tunes |  |
| Crystal Tears (+free dvd)John Dowland & his contemporaries
Andreas Scholl (countertenor), Julian Behr (lute) Concerto di Viole There are few pleasures more delightful than musical melancholy, especially when it flows from the pen of the
finest Elizabethan poets and a composer whose name will be forever associated with that emotion: John
Dowland. His lute songs and consort songs form the backbone of Andreas Scholl's latest recital.
The countertenor has gathered his favourite partners around him in the service of this sublime vocal art,
elegantly distilling its fragile instants of grace.The songs are adroitly interspersed with instrumental pieces by
Dowland's contemporaries.
Bonus DVD NTSC: a performance of the song 'Venus' birds' and a documentary on the making of this
recording.Trailers available on harmoniamundi.com & Youtube.
Since it was founded in Basel in 1989, Concerto di Viole has played as a permanent ensemble. Its four
members all studied at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and each individual brings to it rich musical experience
with well-known international ensembles.They have recorded a number of CDs including German Baroque
cantatas with Andreas Scholl for harmonia mundi in 1998. “There is surely no voice more ethereal-sounding among contemporary falsettists than Scholl’s, and he lavishes a ravishingly beautiful sound on the Dowland “hits”: Go, crystal tears; Now, oh now, I needs must part; From silent night; Come, heavy sleep. The danger of monotony is averted with the interspersing of viol Fantasias by John Ward and Richard Mico, and of Dowland’s lute solos, Semper Dowland, Semper Dolens, The Lady Rich, Her Galliard and A Fancy, exquisitely played by Julian Behr. For fans of both Dowland and Scholl, this is a collector’s item.” Sunday Times, 29th June 2008 Disc of the Week “Since this is a collection dominated by John Dowland's consort songs, sobs and melancholy lie at its heart. But with Scholl's alto brand of counter-tenor floating the lines, polishing the vowels so beautifully, the sorrow never quite feels real. Occasionally he's too loud and hooty, and more than once monotonous. But Venus Birds is irresistible, he dies very nicely in Oh Death, Rock Me to Sleep, and he is always surrounded by succulent sounds from the lutenist Julian Behr. Even with the whistling and instrumental tracks, the variety of mood and texture remains limited - but who goes to Dowland to frolic?” The Times, 7th June 2008 *** “The exquisite melancholy pervading the disc, and its companion DVD, is the perfect balm to beguile you through a wistful summer evening” The Observer, 25th May 2008 “There is some magical singing here, and Scholl is supported by instrumental playing of rare subtlety and real finesse.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2008 **** “Scholl's technique is unimpeachable, his tone polished beyond doubt…” Gramophone Magazine, September 2008 |
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| |  | The Rose Consort of ViolsThe Rose Consort of Viols explore the repertoire of 4 important English composers - Thomas Tallis, Christopher Tye, William Byrd & Thomas Tomkins
Clare Wilkinson (mezzo soprano) Four Gentleman of the Chapel “Clare Wilkinson's pure Mezzo voice emerges from the mists of time in the opening antiphon by Talllis, sustaining and beautifully articulating the text. …the Rose Consort play in a sublimely unfussy, unfettered manner worthy of the music.” Gramophone Magazine, September 2008 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Shakespeare's EnglandeMusic of his Plays & People
anon.: | O, mistress mine Greensleeves Kemp's jigg (for lute) Willow song Love, love, nothing but love Heartease | Byrd: | Fantasia a 5 | Campion: | It fell on a summer's day | Dowland: | Tarleton's Riserrectione | Farnaby: | Jog On | Gibbons, O: | Fantazia | Johnson, R: | Where the bee sucks Full fathom five Care-charming sleep | Lawes, W: | Almain & ayre Pavane | Lupo, T: | Ayre in C | Morley: | It was a lover and his lass | Nicholson, R: | No more, good herdsman | Wigthorpe: | I am not I, of such belief | Wilbye: | Ne reminiscaris |
James Griffett (tenor), Brian Wright (lute) English Consort of Viols, Nicholas McGegan | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | The King's Singers Collection
Andrew Swait (treble) The King's Singers & Concordia 5 CD's for price of 2. (CD's also available separately - Gesualdo SIGCD048, Six SIGCD056, 1605 Treason & Dischord SIGCD061, Spem in Alium SIGCD071 & Landscape & Time SIGCD090) | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Heavenly Harmonies
At the heart of the religious disputes which ravaged 16th century England,Tallis and Byrd embody two opposing
tendencies: the former's austere, homophonic Protestant psalm tunes, in which the clarity of the biblical
texts was paramount, contrast with the latter's Catholic motets, which constantly heighten musical expressivity
and emotiveness.Yet, far from being stifled by the rigour of one camp or the traditionalism of the other, the
creativity of these two masters of English music thrived on such constraints as they dedicated themselves to
the service of their art and of God. New performing edition by Stile Antico.
Working without a conductor, the members of Stile Antico rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each
contributing artistically to the musical result.Their repertoire ranges from the glorious legacy of the English
Tudor composers to the works of the Flemish and Spanish schools and the music of the early Baroque.They
are passionate about the need to communicate with their audiences, combining thoughtful programming with
direct, expressive performances.They are also committed to developing their educational work, for which they
have received generous funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. “Stile Antico perform without a director, and the use of choral effects (gradual build-ups of intensity, or the opposite) doesn't seem overly staged. They certainly make a confident noise, helped by a sound recording that brings out the natural bloom of their sound. ” Gramophone Magazine, June 2008 “The most striking feature of these performances is how wonderfully varied they are. In some pieces… the presentational style almost enters the realm of musical theatre, while in Tallis's God Grant with Grace the utterly still and simple display of the music is transporting.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2008 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Favourite Harpsichord Encores
Robert Aldwinckle (harpsichord) harpsichords by John Horniblow “Robert Aldwinckle is an accomplished player, well known beyond early-music circles. He offers here a potpourri of familiar harpsichord pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries, intended as an introduction, which he performs on two replica instruments built by John Horniblow. The choice of repertoire ….is confidently performed.……many will be delighted to find so many of the harpsichord 'classics' gathered together on a single budget-price CD.” (Gramophone) | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | The Art Of Alfred DellerClassic Vanguard Recordings
Alfred Deller, Desmond Dupré (lute), Walter Bergman (harpsichord), Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) The Deller Consort, Oriana Concert Choir and Orchestra, Ensemble of Baroque Instruments, Leonhardt Baroque Ensemble | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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