THE ROYAL LEWTERS

O'Dette, Paul

HMU 907313

What exactly is a "Royal Lewter"? Rest assured it has nothing to do with smashing castle windows and stealing stuff; rather it pertains to the lutenists employed by the king to provide music of the highest, and thus royal-worthy, caliber for the entertainment of the monarch and his guests. These musicians also offered musical instruction for members of the royal household, and as represented on this generous, 75-minute program, they include such luminaries as Henry VIII himself along with Philip van Wilder, Anthony de Countie, Alfonso Ferrabosco, and "the first great English lutenist" John Johnson. Lutenist extraordinaire Paul O'Dette makes the point that in the 15th and 16th centuries the lute was an instrument utilized for both "rustic dances and cultured arrangements", for both primitive and refined expressions, and thus sat in a unique position at the intersection of popular utterance and more sophisticated experiments.

Wisely, O'Dette generously spices his program with both types of music, adding his own improvements to the "crude" 16th-century lute arrangement of Henry VIII's famous song "Pastyme with good Companie", and inserting Julian Bream's embellishments to the final variation of Johnson's setting of "Carman's whistle". In all, this is a delightful presentation, beautifully articulated, clearly and cleanly performed on two 6-course lutes (modeled after 16th-century instruments) that in O'Dette's hands and fingers crisply sparkle and jump with lilting spontaneity, ideally recorded with respect for the snap of strings and for the warm, wood-colored resonance that gives the lute its special character. If you care about the lute, love 16th-century music, or just want some very pleasant music to fill a background, look no further.

Artistic Quality: 10
Sound Quality: 10
David Vernier, ClassicsToday

Works:

• anon.: A Canzonetta
• anon.: A Downe
• anon.: A Dump
• anon.: Chi passa per 'sta strada
• anon.: Conde Claros
• anon.: Fantasy
• anon.: My Lady Careys Dompe
• anon.: Sellenger's Round
• anon.: The Duke of Somersettes Dompe
• Byrd: Sellinger's Round
• Collard, E: Collard's Ground
• Countie: Anthony Pavyn
• Ferrabosco, A I: A Canzonetta
• Ferrabosco, A I: Fantasia
• Ferrabosco, A I: Pavin
• Henry VIII: Pastyme with good companye
• Johnson, J: A Paven to delight
• Johnson, J: A Pavin by Mr. Johnsonn
• Johnson, J: Carmans whistle
• Johnson, J: Galliard
• Johnson, J: Omnino Galliard
• Johnson, J: Passingmeasures Pavin Johnson, J: Quadro Paven
• Johnson, J: The Galliard to delighte
• Johnson, J: The Gathering of Pescodes
• Johnson, J: Walsingham
• Wilder, P: Fantasie
• Wilder, P: Philip's Dump

CD x 1

Harmonia Mundi

03/03/2003

93046731328