[.ca] Watkins Ale English Renaissan

From Amazon.com:
If you think people didn't have much fun in the 16th century, you may change your mind after you hear the kind of music the ordinary folks were singing, playing, and listening to. The Baltimore Consort, internationally recognized for its outstanding programs and performances of early music, offer us an immediately appealing--and irresistible--assortment of popular tunes from 16th-century England, some of which you may recognize in their modern incarnations. "There were three ravens," "Greensleeves," and John Dowland's famous "Lachrimae Pavan" are a few of the better-known pieces. The Baltimore Consort is known not only for its fabulous musicianship but also for its arrangements, which always seem to perfectly suit the tunes; this disc comprises 20 examples of that virtuosity, and you'll want to hear them again and again. --David Vernier

pure artistic joy-bottled and caught up on a compact disc:
I have already noted my fondness for The Baltimore Consort, and Custer LaRue in particular, elsewhere...but I still feel compelled to praise this album--"Watkins Ale." It is awesome. "Watkins Ale" is, like most of The Consort's recordings, pure artistic joy-bottled and caught up on a compact disc. LaRue's singing, and the playing of the rest of the crew, is absolutely stunning. "There Were Three Ravens" is a deep, beautifully dark, introspective masterpiece. Some of the instrumentals are worth the price of the disc by themselves. The rendition of Dowland's Lachrimae Pavan is--like the rest of the disc--sheer brilliance! If I've put too many commas in my review, it is because I lack the proper superlatives for the task at hand...I recommend this CD most highly.

Watkins ale is very well performed:
Miss LaRue is excellent singing Watkins ale, a funny tale about the effects of some alcoholic drink on a young woman. I am writing this to stress that Americans are at times also able to produce excellent performances of "older music". Have an open mind!

Watkins Ale:
You'll love this one. Don't pass it up.

Joyful and Unique:
The first time I heard the first track of this CD at Amazon.com homepage, I had the wish of buying it. The English Renaissance songs are performed in a very happy and different way. The version to the Green Sleeves is unique and joyful. The Baltimore Consort performs Renaissance music with very sensitivity. The sound is so pure and transmits happiness and peace.

Absolutely The Best!:
I love this CD. The music is soothing, fun and romantic. My suggestion is to play this CD while you are having a lovely dinner with friends or with just one "special" friend. This music in the background during your meal will be awesome!

• Buffens
• Nuttmigs and Ginger
• Green Garters
• There Were Three Ravens
• Howells Delight
• Goe from My Window
• Green Sleeves
• Sampogna
• Unto the Prophet Jonas I Read
• Carmans Whistle
• Galliard Can Shee Excuse
• Lachrimae Pavin
• Quadro Pavin
• Singers Jig
• Grimstock
• De la Tromba Pavin
• Jewes Daunce
• Pavane Quadro and Galliard
• Joyne Hands
• Watkins Ale