La Tarantella: Antidotum Tarantulae Review

I heard this recording in a shop on a Friday evening a couple of years ago. I listened for a couple of minutes and I bought it then and there. This is a very unusual Early Music recording.

Instead of the usual polite and rather staid Tarantellas we often hear on recordings of Italian folk music today, this is wild and untamed music, much more suited to dancing tarantula venom out of one's system!

Christina Pluhar's L'Arpeggiata ensemble includes: three singers, 2 Baroque harps, theorbo, 4 Baroque guitars, 2 archlutes, colascione (a kind of lute), 3 "chitarra battente", psaltery, lirone, viola da gamba, cornamuse and percussion. The sounds are very rich and colourful.

The singers, Marco Beasley, Lucilla Galeazzi and Alfio Antico, sing with great verve and "naturalness" - Marco Beasley, for instance, is a tenor, but he doesn't let himself get too bogged down by his Classical technique here. This is music with a Folk origin and everyone concerned with this recording seems to have kept that in mind. The result is full of energy, colour (as I said) and rhythmical energy.

I cannot describe the music on display here, it defies description. However, take my word for it, this is a great recording and I think you will find it as fascinating as it is entertaining.

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The Renaissance Lute Review

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.

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Medieval and Renaissance: Minstrels, Songs & Dances Review

This was one of the first recordings of early music I ever bought.It's a broad survey of styles and periods, from the 12th to 17th centuries.I've become a more sohisticated listener since then, but I still get this one out fairly regularly.The recording is apparently old and the digital remastering was not done extraordinarily well, but those who are more interested in music than in audio equipment should be able to listen through the occasional (minor) vinyl surface noise.My major complaint (why I gave it 3 stars instead of 4) is the lack ofdocumentation--there is no information about the musicians, and many of the composers are uncredited (some because they actually are anonymous, but sometimes out of apparent laziness).Still, at this price it's a bargain.

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Product Description:
Medieval and Renaissance: Minstrels, Songs & Dances by Musica Antiqua
This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

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Early Music Festival / David Munrow, Early Music Consort Review

The first disc in this collection is delightful.David Munrow's recorder is a genuine treat.The vocal parts blend well and create a festive atmosphere.The Early Music Consort of London offer a splendid performance.By contrast, the second disc, which features Musica Reservata, is a bit disappointing. Two of the solo voices on disc two are harsh, detracting from an otherwise pleasant recording.They may fairly represent the performing style of sixteenth century Florence, but that is small consolation for the twentieth century ear.Nonetheless, the virtues of the first disc are sufficient to warrant purchasing this collection.Munrow is magnificent.

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