Search - John Johnson, Christopher Wilson, Shirley Rumsey :: John Johnson: Lute Music

Entrancing!

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 06/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the kind of music I would not ordinarily be interested in. I know next to nothing about late Renaissance music and even less about lute music. Further, I'm not generally responsive to music for plucked string instruments - guitar, harp, lute. But I was utterly charmed by this issue. I think it was the combination of the soft, dulcet, soothing tones of the lutes used here plus the gentle dancing rhythms of the music itself. Whatever it was, I listened to it straight through the first time and never lost interest; then I played it straight through again, this time listening more critically for things like form, rhythm, harmony, performance style. And I was beguiled all over again.John Johnson (c. 1550-1594) was a low-born Court musician, probably initially apprenticed to the house of the Earl of Leicester, most likely entering his indentureship at the age of seven or so. In 1577 he entered the service of Queen Elizabeth I, where he was considered her favorite lutenist, and remained there for the rest of his life. He was in the generation immediately preceding the better-known lutenist-composer John Dowland and is usually considered to be the founder of the Golden Age of lute-playing in England. The music here is modal, homophonic, dance-derived, with a minimum of contrapuntal interest. The dances one hears are French in origin: galliards, pavanes, almaines (allemagnes). My favorite is the not-surprisingly-named 'Johnson's Jewel,' a lively galliard with a catchy tune. The lutenist here, Christopher Wilson, sounds very skillful and musical. He is joined in nine of the 25 pieces by a second lutenist, Shirley Rumsey. Lute duets were apparently a common form in Johnson's time.Unfortunately my almost-nonexistent technical knowledge of this music is exhausted above. But I'm nonetheless happy to recommend this disc based on my emotional response as a neophyte. It's absolutely charming!Scott Morrison"

And a special word for the lutenists

Jeff | Portland, OR USA | 01/03/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As I type this there is only one other review, Mr Morrison's, and I am happy to agree with every bit of it. I just want to add a word on behalf of the lutenists, Wilson and Rumsey. I am not a lutenist myself but I do play some other string instruments. I cannot recommend these musicians highly enough - words fail me.



Aside from raving about the excellence of this recording, about all I can add is a comment for those who may be unfamiliar with the lute. If you hunting around out of curiosity and only planning to purchase a single recording, at least for now, you might consider a different recording by these same artists. It is titled "Early Venetian Lute Music" and is available as both an MP3 and a CD here on Amazon. It has the virtue of featuring works by several composers, so is perhaps a better survey. But you can't really miss either way."