All in a Garden Green: Four Seasons of English Music | Brilliant Classics 94313

All in a Garden Green: Four Seasons of English Music

Label: Brilliant Classics

Cat No: 94313

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Release Date: 26th March 2012

Contents

About

This is the first recording on Brilliant Classics of the splendid Early Music ensemble Le Tendre Amour. The ensemble present a beautiful bouquet of English Lute Songs, divided in 4 groups centred around the four seasons Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The composers are famous names like Purcell, Byrd, Croft, Lawes, Morley and Eccles, and lesser known such as Lanier, de Gallot and Finger, and there are, of course, many anonymous works.

This is a delightful collection of English songs from the 17th century, showcasing the great enthusiasm for music, particularly amateur music making, that took place during this era. During the Commonwealth of England (c.1640–1660), music disappeared almost entirely from religious and court occasions. The use of instruments and music in churches was banned, and organs were destroyed by order of the regime – so the public turned to village and tavern musicians, country dances and new musical clubs for music making. Coinciding with the decline of the Elizabethan madrigal, folk music and settings of the famous poets of the day were popular; similarly, keyboard variations on dance tunes and romantic songs for voice and lute were all the rage, and this continued into the years of the Restoration under Charles II.

The monarch’s influence can be detected in the French style of some of the later works, featuring oboe and large groups of strings. This outpouring of inspired music is captured perfectly in this new collection, performed with insight and sensitivity by Ensemble Le Tendre Amour. From bucolic country music to sophisticated pieces for a gentrified city audience, the music provides a vivid soundtrack to life in the turbulent world of 17th century England.

The Booklet contains all song texts and excellent liner notes. A pure delight for all seasons!

Contents:
1. Spring: Chirping of the Nightingale / Chirping of the Lark (The English Dancing Master, 1651 edition)
2. Spring: John come kiss me now (The Fitzwilliam Virginal Booke c.1618 / The Division Violin, 1685 edition)
3. Spring: Va poco di manera Italiana / Aria Amorosa (Book I and IV of Aires in 3 Parts, 1676/85)
4. Spring: No more shall meads be deckt with Flowers (Select Ayres and Dialogues, The Second Book, 1669)
5. Spring: Ciaccona (Airs Anglois, Vol. 4)
6. Spring: Glory of the West / The Goddesses (The English Dancing Master: edition 1651)
7. Spring: Can beauty’s Spring (Autograph songbook, #22)
8. Spring: Chaconne (Pieces de Guittarre de Differends Autheurs)
9. Spring: Now ye Spring is come (Elizabeth Rogers Hir Virginall Booke, 1656)
10. Spring: Ground after the Scotch Humour (Ayrs for the Violin, Part 4)
11. Summer: Ground in C Minor (from Suite No.3, D.221)
12. Summer: Sweeter than Roses (Incidental Music to Pausanius, Z.585, 1695)
13. Summer: Greensleeves (The Division Flute, first part)
14. Summer: All in a Garden Green / Onder een linde groen (The English Dancing Master, edition 1651 / Secular keyboard works)
15. Summer: Stanes Morris / The Glory of the Sun (The English Dancing Master, 1651/2)
16. Autumn: O Mistress Mine (The First Book of Consort Lessons, 1599)
17. Autumn: The Woods so wild (The Fitzwilliam Virginal Booke, c.1618)
18. Autumn: The Chestnut / Autumn (Elizabeth Rogers Hir Virginall Booke / The Fairy Queen, Z.629/35)
19. Autumn: Aria (2nd Book of Aires in 3 parts, 1676)
20. Winter: Cold and Raw (The English Dancing Master, 1686 edition)
21. Winter: When a cruel long Winter (The Fairy Queen, Z.629/31, Act IV)
22. Winter: Remember O Thou Man (Melismata, 1611)
23. Winter: Virgin Queen / An Italian Rant (The Dancing Master, 1702, 1657 editions)
24. Winter: A Division on a Ground (The Division Violin, 1685 edition)
25. Winter: Here the Deities approve (Welcome to all the Pleasures, Ode for St Cecilia’s Day, Z.339)

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