Search - The New York Kammermusiker :: A Renaissance Tour of Europe

Excellent, enjoyable

Christian Ellithorpe | Streamwood, IL United States | 12/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very listenable, well-performed Renaissance overview.
Very enjoyable cd that I keep going back to over & over. Some discs of this sort begin to all sound similar, & a tad monotonous, but definately NOT this one. There are also very interesting notes with explanations about the dances & short bios on the many composers on this disc. Unusually well-recorded, as are many of the Dorian CDs."

Delightful Double Reed Performances

Daniel G. Berk | West Bloomfield, Michigan | 08/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The New York Kammermusiker, a double reed ensemble, has put together a impressive and enjoyable collection of music from the mid-15th to the mid-17th centuries, covering most of the Renaissance period.If one is already a devotee of Renaissance music, this collection should come as a welcome addition, if not, this CD is an excellent vehicle for making the acquaintance of some good early music."

Wonderful "tour" of the Renaissance by a lovely ensemble

Simon Zaleski | 04/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a refreshing sampler of the music of the Renaissance, played by a beautiful ensemble. I wish there were more double reed ensembles out there, but even if there were, I'm sure this group would stand out as one of the better groups. There is much nuance and good phrasing in their playing, not to mention that the repertoire is a lot of fun. There is a lot of variety in the album, from noble, grand French court music to lively English dances...from Italian and German counterpoint to sweet English love songs.



To some, Renaissance music starts to all sound the same. Perhaps that's because they haven't quite heard all the different kinds of music that existed in that time. This disc is a great introduction to the repertoire, as well as a pleasing new look at the old music for someone more seasoned in the style. Again, the double reeds...(in this recording, oboe, oboe d'amore, english horn, bassoon, and contrabassoon, used with various numbers of each)...sound wonderful: coy and sweet at one moment, robust and rich the next."