Shadows, not substantial things

Shadows, not substantial things: Music in the works of James Shirley (1596-1666)

This CD features the music from the plays, poems and entertainments of the 17th Century dramatist James Shirley and showcases the music performed in indoor Jacobean and Caroline theatres in the era following Shakespeare with a varied repertoire of vocal and instrumental music, including tavern drinking catches, pastoral songs and dialogues & music from the masques.

Very little of the music on this CD has been recorded previously.

The music for this CD was researched by Dr. Andrew Ashbee and this CD is linked to the UK AHRC funded 10 volume edition of "The Complete Works of James Shirley"

Production of this CD is supported by the Arts Council of England

Tracks

Music from the plays and poems

1. Edward Coleman: The glories of our birth and state
2. (a) John Hilton: Turn Amarillis to thy swain
(b) Thomas Brewer: Turn Amarillis to thy swain
3. Guitar arrangements of three symphonies from the
Triumph of Peace
4. William Lawes: Come my Daphne, come away
5. Ballad: with a fading
6. (a) Henry Lawes: Would you know what's soft?
(b) Robert Johnson: Have you seen but a white lily grow?
(c) Anon: Would you know what's soft?
7. Lyra viol arrangements of masque music:
Symphony IV; Apes Dance
8. William Lawes: What should my mistress do with hair?
9. John Hilton: There was an invisible fox

Music from THE TRIUMPH OF PEACE

10 Antimasque music
a. Davis Mell: Moresca
b. Davis Mell: Courante
11. William Lawes: Song I Hence, hence, ye profane
12. William Lawes: Song II Wherefore do my sisters stay?
13. William Lawes: Song III Think not I could absent
myself this night
14. Simon Ives: Symphony to Song IV
15. Simon Ives: Symphony: to Song V
16. Simon Ives: Symphony to Song VI
17. William Lawes: Song VII Why do you dwell so long
in clouds?
18. William Lawes: Song VIIII n Envy of the night
19. William Lawes: Symphony and conclusion of Song IX

Music from the plays and poems

20. William Lawes: Come let us cast the dice
21. William Lawes: Good morrow unto her
22. William Lawes: Hark, hark how in ev'ry grove
23. Ballad: Turn again Whittington
24. William Lawes: I would the god of love would die
25. Anon: Pigges of Rumsey
26. William Lawes: Cease warring thoughts
(from THE TRIUMPH OF BEAUTY)
27. William Lawes: O think not Phoebe
28. Anon: Cupid calls
29. Ballad: When cannons are roaring

Music from CUPID AND DEATH

30. Anon: Apes Dance
31. Christopher Gibbons: Open blest Elizium grove

Performers:

Passamezzo
Emily Atkinson - soprano
Alison Kinder - bass viol, recorder
Tamsin Lewis - Director, renaissance violin, alto, drum
Keith McGowan - flute, recorders, curtal, bagpipes, Jew's harp, harp
Richard Mackenzie - lute, theorbo, guitar, bass
Peter Willcock - bass, recorder
David de Winter - tenor
Richard de Winter - tenor, drum

Shadows, not substantial things
Price: from £12.50

Track extracts

Extracts available on Soundcloud:

7. Lyra viol arrangements: Apes Dance

6. (a) Henry Lawes: Would you know whats soft?

Review

Passamezzo offer here a dazzling display of their versatility
Review of the CD by Ian Payne published in The Consort