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The Greate Consort Monica Huggett & Anne Schumann violins Emilia Benjamin & Reiko Ichise viola da gambas Elizabeth Kenny & William Carter theorbos Lawes Royal Consorts Volume I & II |
Gramophone
"The Greate Consort, led by
distinguished violinist Monica Huggett, are releasing the ten suites of the
Royall Consort separately (and not in numerical order), which actually makes
very little difference since this is not music one would recommend for extended
listening, any more than one would five Mozart quartets one after another.
These works, if not as profoundly romantic in spirit as the large-scored
Fantasias, are courtly chamber works of supreme quality. Lawes is a master of
line; what logic and textural finesse we detect, for instance, in the Corant of
Suite No. 6 in D: true refinement (in its proper meaning of human dignity
reflected in acute perceptions - not merely self-conscious daintiness) and a
graciousness which, unlike many later baroque courtly styles, still has the
rough grain of an honest composer writing as much for artistic self-discovery
as to satisfy royal obligations.
Volume 2 is really more of the same, in
terms of the more delectable qualities which characterized the performances of
the first volume, even if the major-key music here demands rather more
extroversion. The soft-grained and unforced string timbre of The Greate Consort
is underpinned by delightfully subtle and undemonstrative theorbo playing.
Maybe in such an obvious group-effort it is invidious to pick out individuals
but English consort music is often more treble-dominated than we might think.
Monica Huggett leads by example with tonal sweetness and exemplary
musicianship. Rare qualities indeed, and treasure from which she has effected
chamber music playing of the very highest quality. Highly recommended."
| Click below to Listen to Samples or Buy Lawes Royal Consorts Volume I | ||
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| Click below to Listen to Samples or Buy Lawes Royal Consorts Volume II | ||
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