Mieneke Van Der Velden – Musickes Sweetest Joyes (2004) [MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC]

Mieneke Van Der Velden – Musickes Sweetest Joyes (2004) [MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 69:29 minutes | PDF Booklet | 3,89 GB
or DSD64 2.0 Stereo (from SACD-ISO to Tracks.dsf) > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | PDF Booklet | 1,47 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/96 kHz | PDF Booklet | 1,52 GB
DSD Recording | Features Stereo and Multichannel Surround Sound | Label: Channel Classics # CCS SA 21204

Don’t be put off by the precious title; this is a delightful collection of 17th-century English music built around the delicate viola da gamba skills of the Dutch virtuoso Mieneke van der Velden. Mostly oozing a delicious melancholy, but occasionally boasting a spring in its step, here is the best of such composers as John Dowland, Matthew Locke and William Corkine, with songs from Tobias Hume and Nicholas Lanier. Exquisitely played, with as much devotion to detail as technical mastery, here is period music to beguile many a modern moodswing.This fine recording ought to come with a health warning. If you are feeling cheerful when you start to play it, by the end you will be thoroughly depressed; if in melancholy mood at the outset, an hour later you will be wondering whether life is worth living. It’s not all doom and gloom. Towards the end of the 17th century, consort music was on the way out in England, Purcell’s Fantasias considered the final flowering. However, some years earlier Christopher Simpson was a sufficiently committed advocate of the bass viol to publish The Art of Playing Extempore upon a Ground. The Divisions included here both progress rapidly from a simple statement via a vigorous dotted rhythm to florid writing requiring considerable virtuosity. The Preludes, without continuo, are more rhapsodic in style.

The suite by Matthew Locke is taken from a set of Duos written in 1652. Despite being composed during a turbulent period of English history the contrapuntal Fantazies are solemn rather than sad, and the Saraband, a quick dance at the time, is positively skittish. The Pavins for lyra viol by Robert Jones and William Corkine are darker, but it’s the vocal pieces that plumb the depths. Cease leaden slumber and the songs by Dowland make telling use of two viols as well as the lute. There’s a wonderful passage in Goe nightly care where the treble viol gambols above a repeated monotone in the voice. A couple of mispronunciations apart, the singers acquit themselves well, but the honours go to Mieneke van der Velden, who plays with unfailing intensity and beauty of tone.

Tracklist:

01. Christopher Simpson: Prelude in D
02. Christopher Simpson: Divisions Upon A Ground
03. Robert Jones: A Pavin
04. William Corkine: Coranto
05. William Corkine: The Punckes Delight
06. Tobias Hume: Cease Leaden Slumber
07. Tobias Hume: : Good Againe
08. Tobias Hume: What Greater Griefe
09. Matthew Loeke: Suite in C Minor/Major – Fantazie
10. Matthew Loeke: Suite in C Minor/Major – Courant
11. Matthew Loeke: Suite in C Minor/Major – Fantazie
12. Matthew Loeke: Suite in C Minor/Major – Fantazie
13. Matthew Loeke: Suite in C Minor/Major – Saraband
14. John Dowland: Preludium
15. John Dowland: Go Nightly Cares
16. John Dowland: A Piece Without A Title
17. John Dowland: Coranto
18. John Dowland: Lasso Vita Mia
19. Christopher Simpson: Prelude in E
20. Christopher Simpson: Divisions Upon A Ground
21. Nicolas Lanier: Like Hermit Poor
22. Nicolas Lanier: A Polish Ayre
23. Tobias Hume: Fain Would I Change That Note
24. William Corkine: A Pavin
25. William Corkine: Coranto

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