Search - Good Pennyworths :: Love Lust Longing Loss-An Elizabethan Romp

Love Lust Longing Loss

Kathryn | Washington, DC - USA | 03/04/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I never thought of myself as a fan of lute music, but I saw the Good Pennyworths perform live in D.C. -- they were fantastic -- and was excited to learn they had a CD. I'm sure those who know the genre will give a more detailed, specific and educated review. Classicist I'm not. I just know the songs are fun, the lyrics timeless, and at times you'll find yourself tapping your toes."

A refreshing take on lute songs

Early Music Chica | New York, NY USA | 02/23/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This vocal quartet approaches Elizabethan lute songs, Renaissance ballads and Shakespearean theatre songs with playful, dramatic verve. Selections from composers such as John Dowland, Thomas Morley, Robert Johnson and Thomas Campion as well as traditional folk tunes like Barbara Allen. This group has a lush vocal blend and smart musical interpretations that fully support the text. (I was an English major, and I appreciate singers who pay attention to the meaning behind the lyrics, not just the notes.) There are quartets, duets and solos by each ensemble member, giving each a chance to shine. Erika Lloyd sings a haunting and nuanced rendition of "Rest sweet nymphs." Garald Farnham's clever storytelling on "There is a ladye" shows that there are comic gems hidden in the lyrics of these songs. Alane Marco proves herself a comic actress as well as a fine singer on "Dear, do not your fair beauty wrong." Matt Leisy's voice is stunning on "Have you seen but a white lily grow" and puts Sting's rendition to shame. My favorite ensemble song is a little-known ballad called "Bugle Britches" about a servant girl who tries to con a soldier into marrying her. The group's detailed musicality brings out the humour even more. I was also impressed by the two sopranos' unison singing. They have quite different voices and yet blend into a single seamless sound throughout the song. Brava! This album is a terrific introduction to a promising new ensemble on the scene."

Buckle up, Lute Song Lovers!

Thirdchapter | New York, NY USA | 02/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm so glad I got this album. Love! Lust! is a terrific tour de force of passionate Elizabethan music, sung live to an appreciative crowd, and sung in the studio with precision. This is Elizabethan cabaret. Don't expect to hear bloodless trilling or foot-stomping pub music. These trained musicians know their way around a lute song. The tracks "Fine Knacks For Ladies" and "Say Love" are as lively and coordinated as any Broadway dance numbers. And solos "Have You Seen But a White Lily Grow" and "Rest Sweet Nymphs" showcase fantastic musical chops. But the best part of this album is that all of these songs sound as alive now as the year they were written, both gutsy and tightly performed. Clearly seasoned live musicians, the Good Pennyworths show their ability to delight a crowd in live tracks like "Dear, Do Not Your Fair Beauty Wrong" and "There is a Ladye". Just try to keep dry eyes during "Barb'ry Ellen". And "Bugle Britches" is as bawdy as anything in Shakespeare. The album's final (drinking) song "Toss the Pot" saves the rousing celebration for last. I can't wait to hear the next one."