Search - John Dowland, William [Composer] Byrd, Michael Chance :: Dowland and Byrd: Goe Nightly Cares

Nice 2-for-1 collection of consort music.

06/30/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first CD, recorded in 1989, features Michael Chance on six tracks (no texts included), the second CD, recorded in 1987, is solely viol music.There isn't anyone better at this genre than Fretwork so further comment is needless."

The Grand Climax of English Culture

Leslie Richford | Selsingen, Lower Saxony | 12/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Dowland (1563 - 1626) and William Byrd (1543 - 1623): Goe Nightly Cares. Consort Music and Songs. Performed by Fretwork (Wendy Gillespie; Richard Campbell; Julia Hodgson; William Hunt; Richard Boothby) with Christopher Wilson, lute, Michael Chance, countertenor [CD1] and Elizabeth Liddle, viol [CD2]. Recorded at the Maltings, Snape, Suffolk (England) in December 1987 (CD1) and April 1989 (CD2). Total time: CD1 74'57"; CD2 61'25". Originally released on single CDs in 1989 and 1990. Re-issued as a 2-CD box in 1999 as Virgin Veritas 7243 5 61561 2 8.



The reigns of Elizabeth I. (1558 - 1603) and of James I. (1603 - 1620) of England produced the grand climax of English culture. The literary side of this is well-known (Spencer, Sidney, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Jonson, Webster, Beaumont and Fletcher, Donne, the earlier Metaphysical poets). The musical aspects, on the other hand, have only recently been made available to a wider public by exponents of the early music movement. Anthony Rooley, Emma Kirkby and the Consort of Musicke performed madrigals and lute songs of the period for Decca; and Fretwork set themselves the task of recording "viol consorts" from the same decades. The viol has nothing to do with the violin or viola; it is the "viola da gamba", a nasal sounding string instrument that in Renaissance times was manufactured in several different sizes and often played "in consort", i. e. by a group of five to six musicians with a "family" of different-sized viols. Although the nasal quality of the sound lends itself to melancholy, many of the pieces played here are, in fact, dances, only John Dowland's "Lachrimae" ("Tears") and his "signature tune" "Semper Dowland, semper dolens" being really deliberately melancholy. Byrd's "In Nomines" are based on the plain-chant tradition, apparently going back to a popular melody from one of John Taverner's masses. The Consort Songs are similar to lute songs of the period but accompanied by viols.



The performances sound just as riveting today as they presumably did when these CDs first appeared around 17 years ago. The viol playing by Fretwork is absolutely spot-on, with Christopher Wilson's lute underlay providing a perfect contrast. On CD1, there are six songs performed by Michael Chance, a superb countertenor. What a pity that the sung texts are not printed in the very thin booklet! This is fascinating music that deserves more than a peremptory hearing.



As a footnote I should perhaps add that Dowland's Lachrimae and the attached dances have also been recorded on a consort of renaissance violins by the Parley of Instruments Renaissance Violin Consort, led by Peter Holman (on Hyperion). This disc is equally to be recommended, and I am glad to have both versions of this meditative but moving music.

"

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 11/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A COMPOSITE OF FRETWORK'S LUTE SONGS SOME SUNG BY THEIR FAVORITE SINGER: MICHAEL CHANCE.



In July 1986, the five members of Fretwork, a consort of viols, gave their Wigmore Hall debut to great public and critical acclaim, and shortly afterwards was awarded an Arts Council grant to explore further areas of the vast repertory for viol consort.



Throughout their many performing years Fretwork has performed extensively with the countertenor, Michael Chance, the lutenist,Chrisopher Wilson and the harpsichordist, Paul Nicholson. They have made several recordings on Virgin Classics Label.



The buyer should know that this 2 CD album is a combination of almost the same song material that is included on the single CD album 'Goe Nightly Cares' and 'Music for Viols'.



Also the above list is not totally accurate as to the songs that Michael Chance sings; so here they are: Wm. Byrd: 'If women could be fair'-'Lullaby, my sweet little baby'-'Ah silly soul'-'Ye sacred muses'-and 'Come to me, grief forever'; and by Dowland:'Goe Nightly cares, the enemy to rest' and 'Lasso vita mia'. It is really an excellent group of songs sung by Chance (countertenor)with his usual perfection. I maintain that no one sings this type of song as well as he does. Christopher Wilson very ably accompanies Chance on the lute and Paul Nicholson on the organ.



Fretwork is an excellent group and their performance includes the music of Wm. Byrd-Elway Bevin-Orlando Gibbons-John Dowland-Wm. Lawes and Anthony Holborne.

"