The Food of Love
The Food of Love
Artist: The Baltimore Consort
Composers: Thomas Morley, Robert Jones, Richard Edwards, Anthony Holborne, Thomas Robinson, John Dowland, John Johnson, Robert Johnson, Ben Jonson
Format: 1 CD
DSL-92234
Available Now!.
Mary Anne Ballard
treble and bass viols
Mark Cudek
cittern, bass viol
Larry Lipkis
bass viol, recorders, crumhorn, gemshorn
Ronn McFarlane
lute
Mindy Rosenfeld
flutes, fifes, bagpipes, crumhorn
Danielle Svonavec
soprano
The Food of Love: Songs, Dances, and Fancies for Shakespeare
Founded in 1980 to perform the instrumental music of Shakespeare’s time, The Baltimore Consort has explored early English, Scottish, and French popular music, focusing on the relationship between folk and courtly art song, and dance. Their interest in early music of English/Scottish heritage has also led them to delve into the rich trove of traditional music preserved in North America. Seventeen recordings on the Dorian and Sono Luminus labels have earned them recognition as Top Classical-Crossover Artist of the Year (Billboard), as well as rave reviews elsewhere. Besides touring in the U.S. (all but two states) and abroad (Austria, Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, and Scotland), they often perform on such syndicated radio broadcasts as St. Paul Sunday, Performance Today, Harmonia and the CBC’s OnStage. They have also enjoyed many teaching residencies at K-12 schools, as well as at the Madison Early Music Festival, and other university engagements.
The music in Shakespeare’s plays
There are hundreds of references to music in the works of Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s music can be placed into three general categories:
Incidental Music: The individual titles of incidental music in Shakespeare’s works are never named but the directions “music here,” “music begins,” “music for dancing,” etc. are provided.
Literary References: Shakespeare refers to the music, music theory, and instruments of the time within the text of his works. A humorous example is found in the names of the musicians Peter confronts in Romeo and Juliet: Hugh Rebec, Simon Catling and James Soundpost.
Songs: Specific songs are included for performance in the text of Shakespeare’s plays. Shakespeare authored the lyrics to some of these songs but also incorporated popular songs known to his contemporary audiences. The plays did not include notation of the tunes of these songs. However, we are certain that Robert Johnson’s settings for “Full Fathom Five” and “Where the Bee Sucks” are the same as when originally performed in The Tempest. Johnson is well documented as Shakespeare’s composer. For the other songs on the recording we are using the earliest surviving versions – both published and from manuscript – which are contemporary with Shakespeare’s productions. These include, “It Was a Lover and his Lasse,” “Farewell, Dear Love,” “When Griping Grief,” “Gravedigger’s Song,” and “Willow Song.”
Track List
As You Like It
1. The Buffens (Les Buffons) Jean d’Estrée Tiers livre de danseries, 1559 2:56
2. Kemp’s Jig anon., Matthew Holmes MSS, ca.1588-97 1:15
3. It Was a Lover and his Lasse Thomas Morley, First Booke of Ayres, 1600 3:05
Twelfth Night
4. O Mistresse Mine Thomas Morley, Consort Lessons, 1599 2:07
5. Peg-a-Ramsey anon., Ballet Lute Book, ca. 1600 0:52
6. Farewell, Dear Love Robert Jones, First Book of Songs, 1600 2:21
Romeo and Juliet
7. When Griping Grief Richard Edwards, 1525–1566 3:05
8. My Lady Carey’s Dompe anon., ca. 1525 2:56
9. Complain My Lute anon., broadside ballad, 16th c. 6:18
10. Heart’s Ease (The Honiesuckle) Anthony Holborne, Pavans, Galliards, and Almains….1599 2:57
Henry IV, Part II & A Winter’s Tale
11. The Queen’s Goodnight Thomas Robinson, Schoole Of Musicke, 1603 1:08
12. Fancy John Dowland, 1563–1626 2:19
13. The Carman’s Whistle anon., broadside ballad, 16th c. 5:24
14. Cuckolds All a-Row Playford, The English Dancing Master, 1651 0:32
15. Whoope, Do Me No Harm/Jog On anon., late 16th c. 2:18
Hamlet
16. The King of Denmark, his Galliard John Dowland 1:52
17. Tarleton’s Riserrectione (plucked strings) John Dowland 2:36
18. Gravedigger’s Song (“In youth when I did love”) anon., late 16th c. /
Tarleton’s Riserrectione (bagpipes) John Dowland 2:37
19. Bonny Sweet Robin anon., Matthew Holmes MSS, ca. 1588–97 2:27
20. Tarleton’s Jig John Dowland (?) 2:15
The Tempest
21. Greensleeves anon., 16th c. 1:11
22. Greensleeves John Johnson, ca. 1545–1594 1:18
23. Where the Bee Sucks Robert Johnson, ca. 1583–1634 0:55
24. Full Fathom Five Robert Johnson 1:49
Merry Wives of Windsor & Othello
25. Fortune My Foe anon., The Dallis Lute Book, 1585 2:23
26. Willow Song anon., The Lodge Lute Book, ca. 1559 3:24
Midsummer Night’s Dream
27. Fairie Rownde Holborne, Pavans, Galliards, and Almains….1599 1:27
28. The Mad Merry Pranks of Robin Goodfellow The Roxburghe Ballads, Ben Jonson, 1623 4:04
Total time: 68:04
Release date: August 23, 2019
UPC: 053479223425
“The Baltimore Consort is perhaps the best balancing act of period authenticity, instrumental precision and sheer fun in the early music community today.”
