Il Cortegiano

On this CD:

1. L'Altra Nocte
Composed by Frater Girardus
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

2. Poi che volse la mia stella
Composed by Bartolomeo Tromboncino
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

3. Pavana, la Cornetta for consort
Composed by Anonymous
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

4. Saltarello, el Marchese di Saluzzo
Composed by Anonymous
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

5. Pavana, la Cornetta for consort
Composed by Anonymous
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

6. Se Mai Vedet' Amanti
Composed by Costanzo Festa
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Jean-Luc Impe, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

7. Ogni Loco M'atrista
Composed by Costanzo Festa
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

8. Pavana, le Forze D'Hercole
Composed by Anonymous
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

9. Galliard: la Gamba
Composed by Anonymous
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

10. Pavana, le Forze D'Hercole
Composed by Anonymous
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

11. Fantasias for lute Fantasia
Composed by Francesco Canova da Milano
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

12. Recercadas Nos 4 and 7
Composed by Diego Ortiz
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Jean-Luc Impe, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

13. Virgine belle for ensemble
Composed by Bartolomeo Tromboncino
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

14. Hor che'l ciel e la terra
Composed by Bartolomeo Tromboncino
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

15. Et in spiritum sanctum
Composed by Enriquez de Valderrabano
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

16. Non è tempo d'aspettare, for 4 voices
Composed by Marchetto Cara
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Andrea Damiani, Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

17. Poi ch'io son in Libertade
Composed by Antonio Stringari
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

18. Work(s) Recercada
Composed by Diego Ortiz
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

19. Amor la Tua Virtute
Composed by Jacques Arcadelt
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

20. Il Primo Libro de Madrigali Il Bianco E Dolce Cigno
Composed by Jacques Arcadelt
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

21. A la guerra
Composed by Bartolomeo Tromboncino
Performed by Il Cortegiano with Catherine Daron, Gail-Ann Schroeder, Giuseppe Zambon

Tracks:

Sir John Smith His Almain
Forlorne Hope Fancye
(Pavan)
La Jota
Cumbees
Piva
Emporer Of The Moon
La Battaglia (Jannequin)
Voglio di vita uscir'
(A Jig)
The Earl Of Essex Galliard
The Right Honourable
Aria: Come La Rondinella
Greene-Sleeves
The Glory Of The West
The Queen's Jigg
Fantasia
Sarabrand (sic)
Go From My Windoe
Toccata 2a, For Chitarrone
Hor che gli augelli
Je ne seray jamais bergere

Customer Reviews:

Marvellous!!A delicious recording!!!.......2004-10-01

O`Dette! The lutanist that would become popular in Dowlands time! he seems to me like a Leonhardt on lute.I find the lute no less expressive and enchanting than harpsichord or piano when I listen to Mr O`Dette

Rock guitarist turned lutanist.......2002-08-05

I listen to this album over and over and never get tired of it. O'Dette's interpretations keep sounding fresh and alive, perhaps because of his rock background. This was the popular music of the time and he plays it that way. There's no dusty mustiness of age hanging over it.

Tracks:

The Mystery Of Santo Domingo de Silos Prolegendum: Dominus regnavit - Tractus: Vide, Domine, et considera - Ad confractionem panis: Gustateet videte Silos Monks
Nocturne No. 1 In B Flat Minor, Op. 9 No. 1
Piano Concerto No. 17 In G Major, KV 453: Finale: Allegretto
The Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude And Fugue No. 1 In C Major
Piva: Uplift
Music For The Royal Fireworks: Fourth Movement - La Rejouissance: Allegro
The Creation: Final Movement - Singt dem Herren, alle Stimmen
Violin Concerto in D Major: First Movement: Moderato nobile
The Planets: Mars, The Bringer Of War
Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Fawn
Ave Maria
The Valkyrie: The Ride Of The Valkyrie
Carmen: March Of The Toreodors

Canzoni e Danze: Wind Music from Renaissance Italy

Average customer rating:

Triumphant!
Excellent Renaissance Faire. Buy it!
Definitely Worth the Listening
Superb musicianship on ancient instruments....
Piffaro Renaissance Band Superb

Canzoni e Danze: Wind Music from Renaissance Italy
Joan Ambrosio Dalza , Heinrich Isaac , Francesco Bendusi , Giorgio Mainerio , Rossino Mantovano , Costanzo Festa , Anonymous , Fillippo Azzaiolo , Jacques Arcadelt , Vincenzo Ruffo , Orazio Vecchi , Lodovico Agostini , Giovanni Ferretti , Cesario Gussago , Aurelio Bonelli , Eric Anderson , Grant Gerreid , Adam Gilbert , Joan Kimball , Gwyn Roberts , Robert Wiemken , Thomas Zajac , Piffaro , and The Renaissance Band
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Chansons et Danceries (French Renaissance Wind Music)
Los Ministriles: Spanish Renaissance Wind Music
Los Ministriles: Spanish Renaissance Wind Music
Panorama: Dances of the Renaissance
Music From the Odhecaton

ASIN: B0000057EX
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

Piva
Palle, Palle - Ne piu bella di queste - La mi la sol
Recorders: Pass'e mezo ditto il Romano - Moschetta - Bandera
La Parma - Un sonar de piva in fachinesco (Lirum bililirum)
Regem archangelorum - Alma, che scarca dal corporeo velo
Aldi, dolce ben mio - Bona via faccia barva (Venetiana) - Gentil madonna, del mio cor padrona
Donna, quando pietosa - El travagliato - La gamba in basso e soprano - Amor e foco e ghiaccio
Putta nera ballo furlano
All'arm', all'arm' - Com'al primo apparir - Sonata 'La facca'
Canzona 'Istrina' - Sonata 'La fontana' - Canzona 'Licori'
la morte de la ragione (Pavane) - La traditora (Gagliarda) - Bel fiore - La rocha el fuso (Gagliarda) - El desperato (Saltarello) - La lavandara (Gagliarda)

Amazon.com

Piffaro discs make this sedentary fool want to get up and dance. Renaissance dance music is a much-underrated source of general delight, anyway. You don't have to be the kind of specialist listener who loves medieval masses to get a kick out of this tasty, highly rhythmic music--the disco of an earlier era. The tunes are appealing, the sounds of the varied instruments consistently delightful. I rate discs of Renaissance dances not so much by their authenticity, a debatable matter anyway, but rather by their danceability. Piffaro discs rank consistently high in this respect, and they are realistically recorded. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Triumphant!.......2006-12-01

This is truly one of the best albums of Renaissance music currntly available! Purely instrumental! Much of it appears to be music for a royal court event or the like, with much use of brass and wind instruments. There are also many selections for the festival setting, usually involving the bagpipes and hurdy-gurdy. Too many albums of ancient music "pad" the content with monotonous choral polyphonic selections, perhaps starting out with one or two really good instrumental pieces. However, they did not do that in this one!

Excellent Renaissance Faire. Buy it!.......2005-11-15

'Piffaro The Renaissance Band' is a Philadelphia group who has done several superior albums of Renaissance music for the label 'Archiv', late of Deutche Grammaphone, now part of Polygram. I was astonished when I heard from a student of one of the directors, Robert Wiemken, that the band is paid virtually nothing to make the record and have it distributed. While I would expect that from a minor label, it is surprising that an act should make it to Deutche Grammaphone and not be paid for their recording. I go into this minor digression because I am especially impressed by this recording and all their others as well.

I do take issue with it's being labelled a recording of 'wind' music, as there is ample representation from the family of string instruments, most famously the guitar and the hurdy gurdy.

Although I really enjoy 'old music', I'm not an expert on it, but I set out to distinguish this music from modern stuff, and the two I can find are the presence here of a lot of drone instruments such as the bagpipe and the hurdy gurdy and the absence of instruments such as the clarinet which give us that lushly woody tenor we hear in pieces such as 'Rapsody in Blue' or in some of Kurt Weill's German stage pieces. We also certainly miss the rich sounds of the piano, as the pianoforte has not been invented yet.

If you like old music, this band is a 'must hear'!

Definitely Worth the Listening.......2004-01-26

Simply lovely. Some whimsical, some more technically serious. In all, definitely worth the money and the time. One of my new favorites.

Superb musicianship on ancient instruments...........2001-10-03

I wish composers were still writing for hurdy-gurdy @ crumhorn...what a wonderful sound. I especially liked "La Parma". I do believe a modern tunesmith has taken that melody @ recently made a rather haunting popular song from it; a female vocalist, I think. If anyone out there can remember what the name of that modern tune is @ will post it here, it will save me some on-going mental annoyance. You won't go wrong in buying this album!

Piffaro Renaissance Band Superb.......2001-05-20

This CD has me dancing in the streets. I have played holes in the recording. The musicianship is extraordinary with excitement, love and a great warm sense of pleasure taken by everyone involved. Renaissance instruments are not generally known for subtlety or nuance, but these players work miracles. The percussion sections are also integral to the whole and thrilling, where appropriate. Piffaro, please keep your music coming.

Early Sixteenth Century Venetian Lute Music

Average customer rating:

Apollo's Lyre come to life

Early Sixteenth Century Venetian Lute Music

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chansons | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Royal Lewters: Music of Henry VIII & Elizabeth I's
Lusty Gallant: England's Golden Age
Baroque Lute Music, Vol. 1
Early Venetian Lute Music
Lute Music, Vol. 2

ASIN: B00000I9GI
Release Date: 1999-03-09

Tracks:

Pavana alla venetiana
Saltarello
Piva
Recercar primo
De tous bien playne
De tu biens plaene: De tu biens plaene - nel ton del primo recercar
Padoana belissima
Spagna seconda
Recercar II:XIII: Recercar II:XIII - che sono mi solo. bello. che altri che mi on la
O mia ciecha e dura sorte
Che farala, che dirala
Recercare
Malor me bat
Piva
Laudato Dio
Recercar
Calata ala spagnola ditto terzetti
Recercar quinto: Recercar quinto - belissimo
Non ti spiaqua l'ascoltar - motetto bello
La vilanela
Recercare
Adiu mes amours
Recercare
Tientalora, Balletto da ballare
Et interra pax: Et interra pax - niun non la solum mi
Qui tolis pechata mondi: Qui tolis pechata mondi - chosa belisima
Tastar de corde - Recercar dietro
Pavana alla ferrarese
Saltarello
Piva

Customer Reviews:

Apollo's Lyre come to life.......2005-05-03

Five hundred years ago, a humble lute student by the name of Vidal recorded his master's compositions in a hand-drawn tabulature book. Well aware of the ill-fate befalling musical masterpieces with the passage of time and generations, he decided to embellish the book's pages with fantastic hand-painted scenes - "so that even the unlearned man, seduced by its visual beauty, may preserve it and pass it on intact."

It is thanks to Vidal's foresight that today this precious manuscript survives, along with the sublime music it contains. And this CD is one of the absolute best performances of it I have heard.

Paul O'Dette chose three composers to represent early Northern Italian lute output: along with Vidal's master (Vincenzo Capirola, dated around 1517), there is the music from the two earliest surviving printed lute tabulature books - Francesco Spinacino and Joanambrosio Dalza (1508).

This early lute music is extremely diverse and fascinating, and O'Dette does it full justice in both piece-selection and interpretation. Dalza is best known for his bold dances, which show a strong influence of when the lute was played with a plectrum rather than picked with the fingers. Spinacino stands out for his fiery ricercari, with alternating fast single-note runs and brief counterpointal meditations. But it is Capirola and his vast tapestry of colors that gets the lion's share in this CD (dances, ricercari, vocal pieces set for lute).

Words cannot describe how expressive and varied this music is. Listen to tracks 4 (Ricercare primo), 7 (Padoana bellissima) and 8 (Spagna seconda) to get a sense of the confidence and the maturity that this style had achieved by the early 16th Century.
The lute was rigtfully considered the most versatile musical medium, second only to the human voice - and O'Dette's performance of this incredible music makes you understand why.

Even among O'Dette's excellent CD lineup, this selection stands out as an extraordinary achievement. I could not recommend it more enthusiastically.

Average customer rating:

Absolutely Delightful
A Song of David: Music to my heart

Song of David

Manufacturer: Dorian Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
ASIN: B000001Q77
Release Date: 1995-05-23

Tracks:

Sephardic Songs: Pesah Ala Mano
Sephardic Songs: Triste Esta El Rey
Sephardic Songs: Mizmor L' David
Sephardic Songs: Buena Semana
Sephardic Songs: Mose Salio De Misrayim
Sephardic Songs: El Dia De Purim
Spanish Renaissance: Jancu Janto
Spanish Renaissance: Dime, Robadora
Spanish Renaissance: Calabaca, No Se, Buen Amor
Spanish Renaissance: Recercada Segunda Sobre 'Douce Memoire'
Spanish Renaissance: Zagaleja De Lo Verde
Spanish Renaissance: Cancion Del Emperador
Spanish Renaissance: Fantasia Que Contrahaze La Harpa En La Manera De Ludovico
Spanish Renaissance: Pues Que Mi Tienes, Miguel
Spanish Renaissance: Ay Triste, Que Vengo
Spanish Renaissance: Recercada Segunda
Spanish Renaissance: Tres Morillas M'enamoran
Spanish Renaissance: L'amor, Dona, Ch'io Te Porto
Spanish Renaissance: Triste Estava El Rey
Spanish Renaissance: La Bassa Castiglia
Spanish Renaissance: Yo Me Soy La Morenica
Sephardic Songs: Las Hermanas, Reina Y Cautiva
Sephardic Songs: Il Bastidor
Sephardic Songs: Secretos Quero Descuvir
Sephardic Songs: Madre Mia Si Mi Muero
Sephardic Songs: El Rey Por Muncha Madruga
Sephardic Songs: Yo Hanino, Tu Hanina

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Delightful.......2004-05-24

"Song of David" is the CD that introduced me the vast world of Jewish music, taught me there is more to it than klezmer and "Hava Nagila," and served as the catalyst for my evergrowing collection of Jewish music from around the world. The music selections and recording quality are superb.

A Song of David: Music to my heart.......2003-01-01

I own and enjoy several other CDs of Sephardic music, but this one is my favorite. The melodies are poignant, lively and celebratory. I don't speak Spanish, but to listen and suddenly hear familiar Hebrew phrases and words emerge makes me feel connected to the Jewish communities that flourished in Spain a thousand years ago.

Tracks:

Branle
Branle Gay, C'est Mon Amy
Haulberroys
Haulberroys
Branle De Poictou
Petite Fantasie Dessus L'accord Du Leut
Passemeze
Pavana Bray
Galliard
Forlorn Hope Fancy
Greensleeves
Greensleeves
Greensleeves
John Come Kiss Me Now
Madonna katerina
Christ Is Erstanden (Christ Is Risen)
Und Wer Er Nit Erstanden (And Who Is Not Risen)
Der Hoff Dantz
Der Hoff Dantz (Nach Tantz)
Preambel
Elslein Liebstes Elslein Mein (Dearest Elslein My Elslein)
Ich Klag Den Tag (I Lament the Day)
Ein Welscher Tantz Wascha Mesa
Der Hupff Auff
Fantasia
Conde Claros
Mille Regretz
Passacaglia
Branles De Village
Fantasia
Pavana Alla Ferrarese
Saltarello
Piva
Ricercar #51
Ricercar #16
Ricercar #33
Ricercar #34
O Bone Jesu

Customer Reviews:

One of best lute albums currently obtainable. .......2006-04-11

This album now rates as my favorite from among the lute music offerings readily available from commericial sources in the US. Ronn MacFarlane plays enthusiastically and dynamically, and the great affinity he seems to have for the songs is readily transmitted through the recording. There is nothing monotonous here: each rendition sparkles. Here is an album you can listen to again and again, eagerly anticipating every listen.

Beautiful.......2003-12-30

Ronn McFarlane is great. I'd heard his two Scottish lute CDs, which are wonderful, and The Renaissance Lute is also terrific. McFarlane plays with great sensitivity and touch--bringing out the quiet, reflective nature of the music and also its liveliness--the music is relaxing and lovely.

Music from the Time of Richard III - The York Waits

Average customer rating:

Time Machine
Music fit for a king

Music from the Time of Richard III - The York Waits
English Anonymous , Robert Morton , Anonymous , Christmas Traditional , Glogauer Liederbuch , Giacomo Fogliano , M. Gulielmus , Spanish Traditional , Juan del Encina , and The York Waits
Manufacturer: Saydisc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

1588: Music from the Time of the Spanish Armada - The York Waits
Chansons et Danceries (French Renaissance Wind Music)
Canzoni e Danze: Wind Music from Renaissance Italy
Codex Faenza: Instrumental Music of the Early 15th Century
Panorama: Dances of the Renaissance

ASIN: B00000452C
Release Date: 1995-12-12

Tracks:

England And The Low Countries: Quene Note
England And The Low Countries: La Spagna
England And The Low Countries: Mater Ora Filium
England And The Low Countries: L'Hom Arme
England And The Low Countries: Danse De Cleves
England And The Low Countries: Le Souvenir
France: Tuba Gallicalis
France: Noel Nouvelet
France: Anxi Bon Youre Delabonestren
France: Nous Voici Dans La Ville Dit Le Bourguinon
France: Allez A La Fougere
Germany: In Feueres Hitz
Germany: Auf Rief Ein Huebsches Freulein
Germany: Der Neue Bauernschwanz
Germany: Die Katzen Pfote
Germany: Ein Vrouleen Edel Von Naturen
Germany: Das Jaegehorn
Italy: Mercantia
Italy: Anello
Italy: Amoroso
Italy: L'Amor Donna Ch'io Te Porta
Spain: Bassa Con Misurias, Danza Alta
Spain: Todos Los Biennes Del Mundo Dindirin, Dindirin

Customer Reviews:

Time Machine.......2007-01-04

The York Waits' time machine takes you on a relaxing journey back to the 15th century. I have really enjoyed this selection. Highly recommended for those who enjoy early music.

Music fit for a king.......2000-01-01

This is one of my favourite early music CDs. Like David Munrow and the Early Music Consort, the York Waits have a gift for bringing old music to life. The whole CD (all instrumental music) brays and roars with a marvellous hoarse energy. If Richard III patronized music like this, he can't have been all bad. Most highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Mystery Classics

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000006UO
Release Date: 1996-07-16

Tracks:

Toccata In D Minor: The Phantom At The Organ
Vales Of Dreams: Vale Of Dreams
Night Winds
The Firebird (Introduction): In The Dark Of Night
The Firebird (Dance Of Kashchei's Retinue): The Evil Sorcerer
Bagatelle No. 1: Mysterious Encounter
Bagatelle No. 4: The Forbidden Garden
Contrasts: Agent In Peril
Fantasia, Largo: Lost In The Rain Forest
Berceuse: The Firebird's Spell
Quintet, Op. 39, V: The Intruder
Serenade, Op. 12, II: The Deserted Encampment
Song Of The Nightingale: The Mysterious Bird
Prince Ivan & The Frog Princess: Apparitions
Prince Ivan & The Frog Princess: Poltergeists
The Snow Queen: Hobgoblins
Carol Rosenberger: Ghosts
Gargoyles And Chimeras
Quartet In F, III: Dark Moon

Average customer rating:

This is a MUST BUY for frottola freaks.
Just listen to the samples
A Good Program
A treasure
SUPERB VALUE

Music of the Italian Renaissance

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chansons | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Music of the Spanish Renaissance
Early Venetian Lute Music
Italian Renaissance Dances
Sinners & Saints: The Ultimate Medieval and Renaissance Music Collection

ASIN: B0000013UZ
Release Date: 1995-05-01

Tracks:

La pastorella mia
Ti partir cor mio caro
Fantasia 16
Mal un muta per effecto
Perla mya cara
Fantasia 31
Piva
Quella bella e biancha mano
Baletto
Vecchie letrose non valete niente
Recercare
A la guerra a la guerra
Ricercar 84
La traditora
El grillo
Recercar
O mia cieca e dura sorte
Thochata
Fantasia
Scaramella
Tastar de corde
Calata
Fontana che dai acqua
Cara cossa
Se mai per maraveglia

Customer Reviews:

This is a MUST BUY for frottola freaks........2003-01-17

Ms. Rumsey is not a singer AND a musician. (Singers are musicians, thank you.) She is a musician of extreme talent and expertise in singing and playing multiple instruments. She really understands this genre and she is the number one musician who plays and sings frottole simultaneously. Ms Kirkby sings well but does not play an instrument while singing. Mr. O'Dette plays well but does not sing. As a musician who has recorded serveral frottole, I can tell you that what Ms. Rumsey does is not easy, but she makes it sound easy and lovely. Dr. M.G. Ceruiti, mezzosoprano, guitar, mandolin

Just listen to the samples.......2003-01-02

Shirley Rumsey is such a gifted singer and musician. Each piece is so hauntingly beautiful. I find it amazing that someone with this much talent isn't better known. Oh well, if you are tired of the crap that is passing for music these days, just buy this cd and turn off the radio.

A Good Program.......2002-01-04

The main strength of this recording is the overall program. The selection of pieces, the order in which they are played, and the musical interpretation here make for a good recital. The interpretations I think are a little different than what is typical giving the listener a new perspective on some of these pieces. For example, one usually hears a Dalza Piva as a fairly driving dance piece; but on this recording the Piva is presented as a quietly sweet piece, and it works. Other than some unique, but tasteful interpretation, there is nothing especially outstanding about the performance here, good or bad. There are singers, such as Emma Kirkby, that have given early music vocal performances vastly superior to anything here; and there are lute players running around that can play Ms. Rumsey right into the ground. But this recording, taken as a whole, is enjoyable, bears up well to repeat listening, and is an excellent value.

A treasure.......2001-09-17

I've listened to a lot of recordings of early Italian music, and this is among the best -- exquisitely played and sung. Rumsey has a gift for making this music both accessible and intimate, which is how it was intended. I can't believe the price is so low.

SUPERB VALUE.......2001-04-26

This is a beautiful album in all ways - lovely choice of repertoire, songs sung in believable period style with a clear strong voice, vibrant instrumentals. Usually when an artist both sings and plays, one of these elements is weaker. Not so here! If you like Renaissance music, get this - it's well worth its overly-modest price.