Tickle the Minikin: 17th-century lyra viol music

Tickle the Minikin: 17th-century lyra viol music

Regular price £12.99
Total playing time [64:34]

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Robert Smith (viola da gamba)

Viola da gambist and founder member of the acclaimed Baroque trio Fantasticus Robert Smith makes his solo recording debut with a fascinating programme of 17th-century  works for lyra viol. Employing new editions prepared by the performer, the majority of this stunning recital is from English composers and was sourced from a manuscript collection of mysterious origin housed in the British Library.

Containing a varied array of composers, styles as well as unusual tunings, Smith's polished virtuoso performances showcase the obvious accomplishments of the original owner and compiler of this valuable collection including music from such names as John Jenkins, Thomas Mace, Dietrich Steffkins, Simon Ives & Charles Coleman.

Album Booklet (PDF)

Tracklist

Pieces in Harpe Sette Sharpe
1. Prelude
2. Allemande
3. Courante
4. Carillon
5. Air
6. Allemande and Sarabande
7. Thumping Almaine

Pieces in ‘ededf’
8. Allemande
9. Allemande
10. Sarabande

Pieces in Lancashire Pipes Tuning:
11. Prelude and Lancashire Pipes
12. Kate of Hardie, Piggies of Rumsey and Lancashire Pipes

Pieces in French Sette
13. Almaine
14. Courante
15. Allemande
16. Courante
17. Courante

Pieces in High Harp Flat
18. Prelude
19. Allemande
20. Courante
21. Courante
22. Sarabande
23. Allemande
24. Courante
25. Sarabande

Pieces in 'fedef'
26. Air
27. Air

Alfonso Waye Tuning
28. Jemmye

Pieces in Harpe Sette Flat
29. Courante
30. Allemande
31. Sarabande
32. Allemande
33. Courante
34. Sarabande
35. Air

'[...] you are constantly astonished by the variety of conversations going on within each musical dance. Smith’s approach to this specialist but diverting repertoire [...] is a judicious mix of the scholarly and the pragmatic.'

- Financial Times

'[...] you are constantly astonished by the variety of conversations going on within each musical dance. Smith’s approach to this specialist but diverting repertoire [...] is a judicious mix of the scholarly and the pragmatic.'
Financial Times

'Robert Smith is an outstanding interpreter, casting eloquent and long-breathed contrapuntal lines. The airy acoustic captures the resonance of his instrument in a recording that delights and surprises.'
BBC Music Magazine (Instrumental Choice, 5* performance & recording)

'[...] abundant integrity has gone into this beautifully engineered recording'
Gramophone

'An exemplary showcase for the music of a forgotten member of the English viol consort [...] His tone is sonorous and his readings are technically assured and mostly musically engaging [...] nurturing nuances of phrasing and tempo, as well as a variety of ornaments, with care and refinement.'
The Strad

'[Smith] has carefully programmed his recital for maximum interest and unfailingly takes just the right approach to each piece[...] a fascinating and magnificently performed recital of recondite and yet attractive music'
International Record Review

'Robert Smith, a specialist on the viola da gamba, certainly tickles his to good effect in this collection of English and Dutch pieces for the lyra-viol [...] Smith’s recital is a pleasant tour of the instrument’s capabilities in a variety of tunings'
Classical Ear

'[...]playing of this quality cannot fail to delight, especially when it’s so well recorded'
MusicWeb International (Discovery of the Month)

Credits
© 2014 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2014 Resonus Limited
Catalogue No. RES10132
Producer, engineer & editor: Adam Binks
EAN: 5060262790359
Cover image: Photography by Guillermo Brachetta