Robert Johnson: Prince's Almain & Other Dances

Playing a golden-toned 10-course lute and using original manuscript sources or his own sensitive reconstructions, British lutenist Nigel North presents a delightful recital of dances by Robert Johnson, a contemporary of Shakespeare for whose plays he wrote songs and incidental music. Although they use the old forms of pavan, galliard, almain and fantasie, Johnson's exquisite works tend towards the more expansive, lyrical style that would later flourish in the Baroque period. Nigel North's critically acclaimed boxed set of Dowland's Complete Lute Music is also available (8.504016).

"Johnson's earlier dance music includes galliards and almains, simple pieces largely of melody and bass...North's playing reflects their function, metrical with only the barest slowing up as the dance sequence ends... In contrast to such extrovert movements are the four Pavans, beautifully crafted in often sustained counterpoint...North plays these most thougthfully." -BBC Music Magazine *****

"As always, North's playing is a wonder, an easy, natural musicality and an impeccable technique complemented by a real ear for colour and nuance of expression." -Gramophone Magazine

Notes & Reviews:

Recording information: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008).

Reviews

Gorgeous 10 course lute

Nigel North, a lutenist from Britain, does a phenomenal job on these 17 pieces by Robert Johnson (c. 1583-1633). These pieces have a bit of a Baroque feel to them, and are exquisitely played by Mr. North. A few mentions about the ones that really caught my ear: Track 1) The Prince�s Almain, Masque and Coranto is bright and playful, and Mr. North is obviously having a great time playing this piece � that comes right through. Track 2) Pavan No. 1 -- an elegant golden-toned Pavan, slightly introspective and full of intellectual life. Track 5) Two Almains � purity of tone, impeccable timing, and just darn good music. Track 15) The First, Second, and Third Dances in the Prince�s Masque � this sounds simple to play, but it is extremely difficult. Not only is it a delightful piece, but Mr. North makes it seem like childsplay. This is jaw dropping for those of us who are lute players. Track 17) The Satyr�s Dance � this sounds hard, and it is, making fine use of the instrument�s range and testing the dexterity of the fingers. Easy for Mr. North, not so for the rest of us mere mortals. Wow. So what do I think? If you are a lute fan, get this recording � it�s wonderful!
Submitted on 03/28/11 by KlingonOpera

Also Purchased

Works Details

Johnson, Robert (II) : The Prince's Almain, Masque & Coranto, for lute

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 4 min. 25 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Pavan 1 for lute in C minor

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 5 min. 16 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Gallyard for lute (My Lady Mildmay's Delight)

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 1 min. 42 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Pavan 2 for lute in F minor

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 7 min. 24 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Almains (2), for lute

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 2 min. 41 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : The Noble Man

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 2 min. 52 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : The Witches' Dance

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 1 min. 51 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Pavan 3 for lute in C minor

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 6 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Almains (3), for lute

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 4 min. 42 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : The Fairies Dance

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 2 min. 15 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Fantasie for lute

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 3 min. 27 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Galliard

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 1 min. 39 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Lady Strange's Almain, for lute

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 1 min. 3 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Pavan no 4, for lute

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 3 min. 45 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : The First, Second & Third Dances in the Prince's Masque, for lute

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 3 min. 49 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : Almains (3), for lute

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 4 min. 42 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Johnson, Robert (II) : The Satyre's Dance, for lute

Performer: Nigel North (Lute)
Notes: St George's Church, Sutton, Ontario, Canada (09/16/2008-09/18/2008)
Running Time: 3 min. 9 sec.
Period Time: Renaissance

Reviews

New Recommendations