Discography
John Jenkins: Complete four-part consort music
Fretwork
Signum Records; ASIN: B079FGMFCP
John Jenkins (1592-1678) is perhaps the most popular English composer of the great golden era of music for multiple viols, ranging from William Cornyshe in 1520 through to Henry Purcell in 1680. The reason why is not hard to fathom: a rare melodic gift is married to an exceptionally deep understanding of harmony and modulation, and effortless counterpoint gives each part an equal voice in the musical conversation. Fretwork perform Jenkins’ complete consort works for four-part viol ensemble, in a new recording that showcases this composer’s rich and diverse compositions.
Fretwork
Signum Records; ASIN: B079FGMFCP
John Jenkins (1592-1678) is perhaps the most popular English composer of the great golden era of music for multiple viols, ranging from William Cornyshe in 1520 through to Henry Purcell in 1680. The reason why is not hard to fathom: a rare melodic gift is married to an exceptionally deep understanding of harmony and modulation, and effortless counterpoint gives each part an equal voice in the musical conversation. Fretwork perform Jenkins’ complete consort works for four-part viol ensemble, in a new recording that showcases this composer’s rich and diverse compositions.
"In Chains of Gold", The English Pre-Restoration Verse Anthem, Volume 1: Orlando Gibbons, Complete Consort Anthems
Fretwork | Magdalena Consort | His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts
Signum Records; ASIN: B075H8M6JB
Orlando Gibbons' consort anthems have been recorded for the first time in their entirety, accompanied by Fretwork with the early brass ensemble His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts and sung by Magdalena Consort of voices: Julia Doyle, Catherine King, Eleanor Minney, Charles Daniels, Jeremy Budd, Samuel Boden, Nicholas Todd, Greg Skidmore, Simon Gallear, Will Gaunt and its director Peter Harvey. Famous pieces such as This is the record of John and Behold, thou hast made my days have for many a particular resonance due to their association with Evensong in Oxbridge chapels and cathedral naves, and the suave sonority for which their choirs are internationally renowned. But in this project we have taken a radical approach, following the instruction of contemporary writers such as Morley and Caccini to place the communication of text at the forefront, and seeking to rediscover the dramatic essence of the verse anthem, that made it arguably the most effective musical creation of the English Reformation.
Fretwork | Magdalena Consort | His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts
Signum Records; ASIN: B075H8M6JB
Orlando Gibbons' consort anthems have been recorded for the first time in their entirety, accompanied by Fretwork with the early brass ensemble His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts and sung by Magdalena Consort of voices: Julia Doyle, Catherine King, Eleanor Minney, Charles Daniels, Jeremy Budd, Samuel Boden, Nicholas Todd, Greg Skidmore, Simon Gallear, Will Gaunt and its director Peter Harvey. Famous pieces such as This is the record of John and Behold, thou hast made my days have for many a particular resonance due to their association with Evensong in Oxbridge chapels and cathedral naves, and the suave sonority for which their choirs are internationally renowned. But in this project we have taken a radical approach, following the instruction of contemporary writers such as Morley and Caccini to place the communication of text at the forefront, and seeking to rediscover the dramatic essence of the verse anthem, that made it arguably the most effective musical creation of the English Reformation.
Thomas Tallis, Queen Katherine Parr & Songs of Reformation
Fretwork | Alamire
Obsidian Records; ASIN: B07539TFV4
In the year marking 500 years since the posting of Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, this new recording by Alamire, Fretwork and David Skinner celebrates the music of Thomas Tallis, whose musical style famously evolved with the changing religious landscape of 16th-century England. The disc will be available online, in store and as a digital download from Friday 10 November 2017.
Fretwork | Alamire
Obsidian Records; ASIN: B07539TFV4
In the year marking 500 years since the posting of Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, this new recording by Alamire, Fretwork and David Skinner celebrates the music of Thomas Tallis, whose musical style famously evolved with the changing religious landscape of 16th-century England. The disc will be available online, in store and as a digital download from Friday 10 November 2017.
A Pleasing Melancholy: John Dowland's Lachrimae Pavans and sundry sorrowful songs
Chelys Consort | Emma Kirkby | James Akers
BIS Records; ASIN: B0742XTS79
A pleasing melancholy is how Robert Burton described the feeling that certain music can give rise to, in his The Anatomy of Melancholy from 1621. Some 20 years earlier John Dowland, melancholic par excellence, had expressed a similar idea in the dedication of his Lachrimae, or Seven Tears: pleasant are the tears which music weeps. During this period in England, melancholia had become fashionable, especially in cultural and literary circles, and spawned countless poems, paintings and songs. When Dowlands lute song Flow My Tears was published in 1600, the instrumental Lachrimae Pavan on which it was based had been in circulation for several years and was the composers number one hit both in England and on the continent and four years after the song, he returned to the music and varied it in the seven tears for viol consort and lute. Colleagues of Dowland such as Robert Jones and John Danyel explored similar moods and emotions in their own songs, sometimes as in Danyels Eyes look no more making clear allusions to Dowlands famous pavan. The Chelys Consort of Viols released their first disc in 2015 to critical acclaim. For the present recording they are joined by lutenist James Akers, and Emma Kirkby, the English soprano who has long been a leading figure in the field of early music.
Chelys Consort | Emma Kirkby | James Akers
BIS Records; ASIN: B0742XTS79
A pleasing melancholy is how Robert Burton described the feeling that certain music can give rise to, in his The Anatomy of Melancholy from 1621. Some 20 years earlier John Dowland, melancholic par excellence, had expressed a similar idea in the dedication of his Lachrimae, or Seven Tears: pleasant are the tears which music weeps. During this period in England, melancholia had become fashionable, especially in cultural and literary circles, and spawned countless poems, paintings and songs. When Dowlands lute song Flow My Tears was published in 1600, the instrumental Lachrimae Pavan on which it was based had been in circulation for several years and was the composers number one hit both in England and on the continent and four years after the song, he returned to the music and varied it in the seven tears for viol consort and lute. Colleagues of Dowland such as Robert Jones and John Danyel explored similar moods and emotions in their own songs, sometimes as in Danyels Eyes look no more making clear allusions to Dowlands famous pavan. The Chelys Consort of Viols released their first disc in 2015 to critical acclaim. For the present recording they are joined by lutenist James Akers, and Emma Kirkby, the English soprano who has long been a leading figure in the field of early music.
The World Encompassed - by Orlando Gough
Fretwork | Simon Callow (Narration)
Signum Classics; ASIN: B06XWC5R63
During his journey to circumnavigate the globe Sir Francis Drake took four viol players with him, who played both for his devotions and to the native peoples around the world that they encountered. Fretwork have commissioned British composer Orlando Gough to recreate this remarkable journey in sound, in a work for viol consort that combines music from 16th century England with the sounds that these musicians would have heard and perhaps tried to recreate on their journey from the rebab and the gamelan to the mesmerising chanting of the Native Americans. The result is a musical narrative of one of the most significant achievements of the English golden age and an evocation of the earliest musical encounters between east and west. This premiere recording is interspersed with narration from The World Encompassed, one of the first literary accounts of the journey, read by Simon Callow.
“No group play the viol repertoire with more flair and feeling than Fretwork.” The Times
Fretwork | Simon Callow (Narration)
Signum Classics; ASIN: B06XWC5R63
During his journey to circumnavigate the globe Sir Francis Drake took four viol players with him, who played both for his devotions and to the native peoples around the world that they encountered. Fretwork have commissioned British composer Orlando Gough to recreate this remarkable journey in sound, in a work for viol consort that combines music from 16th century England with the sounds that these musicians would have heard and perhaps tried to recreate on their journey from the rebab and the gamelan to the mesmerising chanting of the Native Americans. The result is a musical narrative of one of the most significant achievements of the English golden age and an evocation of the earliest musical encounters between east and west. This premiere recording is interspersed with narration from The World Encompassed, one of the first literary accounts of the journey, read by Simon Callow.
“No group play the viol repertoire with more flair and feeling than Fretwork.” The Times
Martin Peerson: A Treatie of Humane Love - Mottects or Grave Chamber Musique
Fretwork | I Fagiolini | James Johnstone
Regent Records; ASIN: B01MTXMRBW
Following on from Fretwork's acclaimed release on Regent of Sublime Discourses (REGCD341), which featured the complete instrumental music of John Milton and Martin Peerson,I Fagiolini and Fretwork come together with organist James Johnstone for the première recording of Peerson`s A Treatie of Humane Love.Newly edited by Richard Rastall, this collection of song settings of poetry by Sir Fulke Greville, focusses predominantly on the subject of love, making it an ideal counterpoint to St Valentine`s Day. Martin Peerson (c1572 1651) has been known since the mid- 20th century as an engaging and very performable composer with a highly individual voice; but in his own time he was much respected and published, perhaps the most able of those composers who were not in royal service. This release is a major contribution to the discography of 17th century English music in incomparable performances from some of the world`s finest artists in the field.
Fretwork | I Fagiolini | James Johnstone
Regent Records; ASIN: B01MTXMRBW
Following on from Fretwork's acclaimed release on Regent of Sublime Discourses (REGCD341), which featured the complete instrumental music of John Milton and Martin Peerson,I Fagiolini and Fretwork come together with organist James Johnstone for the première recording of Peerson`s A Treatie of Humane Love.Newly edited by Richard Rastall, this collection of song settings of poetry by Sir Fulke Greville, focusses predominantly on the subject of love, making it an ideal counterpoint to St Valentine`s Day. Martin Peerson (c1572 1651) has been known since the mid- 20th century as an engaging and very performable composer with a highly individual voice; but in his own time he was much respected and published, perhaps the most able of those composers who were not in royal service. This release is a major contribution to the discography of 17th century English music in incomparable performances from some of the world`s finest artists in the field.