Search - John Dowland, Henry Purcell, Michael Chance :: Awake, Sweet Love

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 03/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"TWO CD'S BOTH REISSUES.

CD 1 is from an original entitled: "Dowland: the first book of songs". It features tenor Rufus Muller accompanied by Christopher Wilson, lutenist, performing twenty-one songs from Dowland's First Book of Ayres. It is available in the original edition on the Amazon Marketplace at much higher prices than you will get with the reissue and it's the same thing.



John Dowland (1563-1626)is a somewhat tragic figure when it comes to his life experiences; he was refused a much desired post with Queen Elizabeth, and he left England to travel to Germany and then Italy where he exposed a plot of exiles against the life of the Queen and so returned home to England etc. He just couldn't seem to adjust to life's problems. Be that as it may, Dowland was the greatest song-writer of his day and one of the finest in the history of English music, earning a particular reputation for his melancholy pieces, many of which are included on CD l.



Rufus Muller has a pleasant tenor voice quite suitable for the singing of lute songs. I personally found some of his tempos questionable, but to each his own. His voice is clear as to tone-quality, precise understandable dicton; not as much emotional investment as I would like, but that has something to do with his failure to really sing slowly when the message indicates such, as in the song:"Can She Excuse My wrongs?" In fact, I have never heard that song sung as fast as he sang it. Some of the other Dowland songs are: 'Unquiet Thoughts'-Whoever thinks or hopes of love'-'Burst Forth, My Tears'-'Come Again Sweet Love doth now invite'. There are twenty-one in all and definitely MELANCHOLY!



CD 2 is a reissue of a 1995 recording entitled "Music for A While" featuring Michael Chance (countertenor), accompanied by Richard Boothby, viola da gamba, Maggie Cole, harpsichord and Nigel North, archlute, theorbo. Chance sings fifteen songs by Henry Purcell.



Henry Purcell (1659-1695)looked like a Florentine Prince, was hail-fellow-well-met in tavern and taproom, was in fact, a most likeable young man, as well as a "very great Master of Musick". It was written by Henry Playford in the first volume of 'Orpheus Britannicus' (1698) that he has a 'peculiar Genius to express the energy of English words, whereby he mov'd the passions of all his Auditors'. The songs on this CD not only reflect his personality, but many are taken from Odes that were written for various occasons such as : 'Ode to St. Cecelia'(birthday), 'Ode to Queen Mary'(birthday); some from his mini-operas such as 'The Fairy Queen'. etc.



Some of the songs are: 'Crown the Altar'-'Strike the Viol'-'If Music be the Food of Love'-'Music for a While'- 'Thrice Happy'- 'One Charming Night'- 'An Evening Hymn'. There are fifteen in all and the voice of Michael Chance is very much at home with these. In fact, to my ears, he is the number one lute song singer; with his lush sounding tone quality, his absolutely perfect diction and most of all TREMENDOUS EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH THE ESSENCE OF THE SONG!.



Christopher Wilson, lutenist, who accompanied both singers, is one of the most 'tuned-in' accompanists I have ever heard in this capacity. He is incredibly sensitive to every nuance and muscial phrase of the singer; just great! Nigel North, Maggie Cole and Richard Boothby are in the same category!!!!



CD 2 is not available in the original issue, even on Amazon Marketplace, but this price for both discs is umbelieveably low. If you are a follower of either or both of these singers don't fail to follow through, unless, of course, you already have the original issues.

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