COMPOSERS: Various
LABELS: Amon Ra
WORKS: Various Renaissance works from England, Germany, Italy and France
PERFORMER: Various
CATALOGUE NO: CD-SAR 65 1984-92
This is a compilation which, for once, gives a clear guide to the great variety of Renaissance music, country by country. England, France and Germany are presented by Fretwork and The York Waits – the former at their lucid best in Byrd’s four-part viol piece In nomine No. 2, and the latter in the rousing Bransles de Champagne. The magisterial Low Countries polyphony is handled reasonably well by the New London Chamber Choir (Brumel’s Nato canunt is a marvellous discovery), and Italy and Spain are served up by the adventurous Musica Secreta and some fine instrumentalists. Nigel North’s vihuela solo is particularly worth hearing. Anthony Pryer