Founded in 1980 to perform the instrumental music of Shakespeare’s time, The Baltimore Consort has explored early English, Scottish, and French popular music, focusing on the relationship between folk and courtly art song, and dance. Their interest in early music of English/Scottish heritage has also led them to delve into the rich trove of traditional music preserved in North America.
There are hundreds of references to music in the works of Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s music can be placed into three general categories: Incidental Music- The individual titles of incidental music in Shakespeare’s works are never named but the directions “music here,” “music begins,” “music for dancing,” etc. are provided. Literary References- Shakespeare refers to the music, music theory, and instruments of the time within the text of his works.
A humorous example is found in the names of the musicians Peter confronts in Romeo and Juliet: Hugh Rebec, Simon Catling and James Soundpost. Songs- Specific songs are included for performance in the text of Shakespeare’s plays. Shakespeare authored the lyrics to some of these songs but also incorporated popular songs known to his contemporary audiences. The plays did not include notation of the tunes of these songs. However, we are certain that Robert Johnson’s settings for “Full Fathom Five” and “Where the Bee Sucks” are the same as when originally performed in The Tempest.
Johnson is well documented as Shakespeare’s composer. For the other songs on the recording we are using the earliest surviving versions – both published and from manuscript – which are contemporary with Shakespeare’s productions. These include, “It Was a Lover and his Lasse,” “Farewell, Dear Love,” “When Griping Grief,” “Gravedigger’s Song,” and “Willow Song.”
The Baltimore Consort
Mary Anne Ballard – Treble and Bass Viols
Mark Cudek – Cittern, Bass Viol
Larry Lipkis – Bass Viol, Recorders, Crumhorn, Gemshorn
Ronn McFarlane – Lute
Mindy Rosenfeld – Flutes, Fifes, Bagpipes, Crumhorn
Danielle Svonavec – Soprano
Tracklist
Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.Total time: 01:07:51
Additional information
| Label | |
|---|---|
| SKU | DSL92234 |
| Qualities | |
| Channels | |
| Artists | |
| Composers | Anonymous, Anthony Holborne, Ben Jonson, Jean d'Estree, John Dowland, John Johnson, Richard Edwards, Robert Johnson, Robert Jones, Thomas Morley, Thomas Robinson |
| Genres | |
| Analog to Digital Converters | Horus (recording), Hapi (mastering), Merging Technologies at DXD (352.8 kHz) |
| Editing Software | Pyramix, Merging Technologies |
| Mastering Engineer | Daniel Shores |
| Instruments | Bass violin, Flute, Lute, Recorder, Treble viol, Vocal soprano |
| Original Recording Format | |
| Producer | Dan Merceruio |
| Recording Engineer | Daniel Shores |
| Recording Location | Leighton Concert Hall, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, University of Notre Dame — July 29-August 2, 2018 |
| Recording Software | Pyramix, Merging Technologies |
| Recording Type & Bit Rate | DXD |
| Speakers | Legacy Audio |
| Release Date | August 23, 2019 |
Press reviews
Positive Feedback
In this recording, we find The Baltimore Consort back in the music of England during Shakespeare’s time. This is the secular music of Dowland, Robert Johnson, Ben Johnson, and Holborne. All performed on period instruments with the wonderfully complex timbre of gut strings and wood flutes, recorders, and other winds. The instruments are of the period: recorders, fife, crumhorn, viols, cittern, lute, bagpipe, and even a gemshorn!
It is a aural treat of complex and different sounds.
And because all of this music is secular music, nary a note of church music will be found. It is all of good ribald fun. Lively, witty, simply full of life. This is early music to make you want to dance, tap your toes, smile, and be thankful to hear.
Their performances are authentic to the period, as best I can determine from listening to Renaissance music for well over 40 years. Nothing stodgy. It’s all lithe, energetic, tuneful music making of the highest order.
If you have any affinity for early music, this recording is of the highest order. I recommend it enthusiastically!
KDFC
Album of the Week
“If music be the food of love, play on.”
Since 1980, The Baltimore Consort has solidified themselves as early music experts. Mastering the music from Shakespeare’s time, and even earned themselves Billboard’s Top Classical-Crossover Artist of the Year along the way.
Their latest album, The Food of Love (Songs, Dances, and Fancies for Shakespeare) explores some of the hundreds of references to music in the works of Shakespeare.
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