Canon / La Spagna / Passamezzo Gaillard/ Recercada Segunda
FantasÃa que contrahaze la harpa en la manera de Luduvico
Vestiva i colli / Recercada Quinta
Tourdion
On Nuove Musiche, his highly successful ECM debut released in spring 2006, Norwegian master lutenist Rolf Lislevand led his own group of international early music virtuosi. The album presented ravishing and unorthodox acco... more »unts of mostly Italian instrumental music from the early Baroque. Based on Italian Renaissance sources from the 16th century - madrigals, chansons and virtuoso lute music - the new program goes even further back - from the "seconda pratica" of monophonic expressiveness to the "prima pratica" of polyphonic complexity. * Once again putting a strong emphasis on improvisation, Lislevand and his colleagues disclose the astounding modernity and emotional wealth in the music of composers such as Giovanni Antonio Terzi or Joan Ambrosio Dalza. Most of the music stems from the Veneto region of Italy where, during that period, strong influences of oriental and eastern music could be felt. Lislevand's group translates this with a lush scoring for deep instruments, both stringed and plucked. The album title Diminuito refers to the practice of virtuosic ornamentation of vocal lines, the "diminution" of larger rhythmic and harmonic units in most agile runs, scales and arpeggi. The album was recorded at the monastery of St. Gerold with a line-up including two of Trio Mediaeval's delightful sopranos, Anna Maria Friman and Linn Andrea Fuglesth.« less
On Nuove Musiche, his highly successful ECM debut released in spring 2006, Norwegian master lutenist Rolf Lislevand led his own group of international early music virtuosi. The album presented ravishing and unorthodox accounts of mostly Italian instrumental music from the early Baroque. Based on Italian Renaissance sources from the 16th century - madrigals, chansons and virtuoso lute music - the new program goes even further back - from the "seconda pratica" of monophonic expressiveness to the "prima pratica" of polyphonic complexity. * Once again putting a strong emphasis on improvisation, Lislevand and his colleagues disclose the astounding modernity and emotional wealth in the music of composers such as Giovanni Antonio Terzi or Joan Ambrosio Dalza. Most of the music stems from the Veneto region of Italy where, during that period, strong influences of oriental and eastern music could be felt. Lislevand's group translates this with a lush scoring for deep instruments, both stringed and plucked. The album title Diminuito refers to the practice of virtuosic ornamentation of vocal lines, the "diminution" of larger rhythmic and harmonic units in most agile runs, scales and arpeggi. The album was recorded at the monastery of St. Gerold with a line-up including two of Trio Mediaeval's delightful sopranos, Anna Maria Friman and Linn Andrea Fuglesth.
"Beautiful music lovingly and spititedly performed. This is not the usual rendition of early music.It exhibits quite a measure of fresh air. This recording is an instant favorite of mine and will receive repeated playings."
Dancing the Aisles
Stephen D. Linam | Austin, TX USA | 01/06/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a wonderful find.
The selections are interesting, the musicianship outstanding and the production perfect. But what I like the most is that it's just plain fun. The performance is exciting; a roller coaster ride that had me holding my breath and waiting for what was around the next corner.
I suspect that someone very concerned about "historically informed performance" will be less than thrilled with this. I say it's about time for an early music ensemble to have us all dancing in aisles, and a big thank you to Mr. Lislevand giving us that."
Renaissance Red-Hot
Rebecca Winters | 01/07/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A wonderfully original interpretation of Renaissance music. The old is mixed with whimsical improvisation and occasional singing. The result is pure delight."
Warrants Repeated Listening
Joseph Reader | USA | 03/12/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is an interesting, engaging, and lovely CD from the ECM label, which I think is widely considered to be an audiophile label--at least its recordings regularly get very favorable reviews in (unduly venerated) audio magazines. I personally have usually been disappointed, both musically and sonically, by ECM's records, which (sonically) tend too much to the cool/analytical side of the spectrum for my tastes.
Not so here, however. This recording is really good--the best I've heard from ECM--and so is the music (though I was underwhelmed by it on first listen--if you don't like it the first time you hear it, play it through at least once more; there are some lovely musical niceties that I did not appreciate the first time). I'm glad to have this CD. I'll be listening to it often."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
