Search - Piffaro, Compere, Isaac :: Music from the Odhecaton

The first doucaine recording

12/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The doucaine was discovered a few years ago (circa 1969+)in the sunken wreck of one of Henry VIII's war ships. It is somewhat like a shawm but has a mostly cylindrical bore instead of conical, which gives it a somewhat more subdued presence. This recording by Piffaro contains several pieces arranged for doucaine(s). Piffaro ranks among the greatest of early music groups and the guest performers in this recording are equally as great. For example, Kiri Tollaksen playing cornetto is among thebest I have heard (having been at one of her performances this summer). This recording should be in the collection of every person who appreciates early music."

Good CD, but not Piffaro's best

cmpst52 | Denton, NC United States | 02/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a big fan of Piffaro, having most of their CD's and having seen them live. Great stuff!Odhecaton is a good CD, and well worth the cost. The two tracks Dit la burgynon/Rompeltier are worth the CD's cost alone.HOWEVER, I prefer their more upbeat music, like shawms or bagpipes, more than the (in my opinion) boring lute or recorder peices, which make up the bulk of Odhecaton. Their other CDs, especially their German and Flemish ones, emphasize the Piffaro styles I enjoy more. Get this CD if you love Piffaro; get one of the others if you don't know yet."

More sonorous and richly textured wind music from Piffaro

Brianna Neal | USA | 11/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Piffaro, the Renaissance Band performs selections from Ottaviano Petrucci's 1501 publication, "Harmonice Musices Odhecaton" (One Hundred Songs of Harmonic Music)--accessible compositions by Italian, French and German composers of the 15th and 16th centuries. One distinguishing feature of Piffaro is the strength and directness of Adam Gilbert's arrangements, featured by name on this CD and its Dorian predecessor "Stadtpfeiffer". In pleasant contrast to the complicated contrapuntal compositions of the old masters, Gilbert takes popular melodies of the day and adds accompaniments in close harmony over a lively strummed and percussive ground provided by lute and guitar player Grant Herreid and guest drummer Danny Mallon. The result is pleasantly well-rounded listening experience, ranging from the cerebral extreme to the visceral. If you enjoy music for recorders, reeds and early brass, try also Ensemble Doulce Memoire's "Renaissance Winds: Regal and Popular 16th Century Music for Wind Band", and for a somewhat similar tone, if an unorthodox setting, you might get a kick out of the Palladian Ensemble's "Les Saisons Amusantes: Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' Adapted by Nicholas Chedeville, 1705-1782"."