Around 1600 the lute was one of the most popular instruments
across Europe, and lutenists were held in high esteem. Their
repertoire was versatile, from free forms such as the prelude
and the fantasia, through dances to intabulations of vocal music
and variations on popular songs. Lute music flourished in England,
with John Dowland as one of its main representatives, but the
Netherlands was also a centre of lute playing and lute composing.
This had everything to do with the increase in wealth which
resulted in an era which is known as the 'Golden Age'. Playing
and singing music at home and in social gatherings was one of
the main occupations of aristocrats and wealthy citizens of
cities like Amsterdam, Haarlem and Leiden. This disc brings
together pieces by some of the best lute composers of the early
17th century.
The programme begins with six pieces from the so-called Thysius
Lute Book, called after its later owner, Jan Thijs. The
collection is one of the largest in the world, including no
fewer than 907 pieces. It was put together by Adriaan Joriszoon
Smout, who studied at Leiden University and later became a prominent
Calvinist clergyman, who as a pastor in Amsterdam came often
into conflict with the authorities whom he attacked because
of their liberal views. The book contains pieces from England,
France and Italy as well as settings of Dutch folksongs. Most
pieces are anonymous. The melancholic Ick lijd' int hart
pijn onghewoon is by a certain "Mr. David". This
probably refers to David Janszoon Padbrué, member of a musical
family from Haarlem. His uncle was Cornelis Thymenszoon Padbrué,
a composer of mainly madrigals.
The wealth of the Republic of the Seven United Provinces also
attracted foreigners. One of them was Nicolas Vallet from France,
who settled in Amsterdam around 1613. Here he played a major
role in cultural life. Among the most notable parts of his oeuvre
are his lute quartets. They reflect his activities as a player
at weddings and other festivities of wealthy citizens. He published
four books with lute music, among them settings of all 150 Psalms
on the melodies of the Genevan Psalter. His books contain many
variations on popular tunes which were also used by composers
like Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (keyboard) and Jacob van Eyck
(recorder). Onder de lindegroene, for instance, is
best known in variations by Sweelinck.
The Netherlands took profit from the political and religious
situation in the southern Netherlands. When the Spanish armies
took Antwerp in 1585 composers of protestant conviction fled
north. One of them was Joachim van den Hove, who settled in
Leiden in 1593. Here he became a highly respected member of
society who moved in the highest circles. The Laeste Leijtsch
Afscheyt bears witness to this as it was written for "Do.
Martino Dalemio". This Martin Dalem is called doctissimo,
most learned, which suggests he was a professor at Leiden University.
The Galliarde for Adam Leenaerts (track 22) is further
evidence of his stature as this was one of his wealthy students.
Composers could never be sure of their status: Van den Hove's
financial situation deteriorated to such an extent that in 1616
his properties were confiscated. He fled to The Hague, where
he died in poverty. Many pieces by Van den Hove have been preserved.
We find all the then common forms, like dances (Almande,
Gaillarde), free forms (Preludium, Fantasia sexta)
and arrangements of popular tunes (Susanneken, Windeken).
He also wrote his version of John Dowland's famous Pauana
Lachrimae.
Dowland was active not only in his own country, he also played
in various places on the continent. One of them was the court
in Wolffenbüttel, where he met Gregorio Huwet (or Huet), another
emigrant from Antwerp. They played together and Dowland had
a high opinion of his Flemish colleague. Anthony Bailes plays
two Fantasias, which show Dowland's influence. One
of them (track 7) was included in Varietie of Lute Lessons
which was edited by Dowland's son Robert. In contrast to Huwet
and Van den Hove Emanuel Adriaenssen converted to Catholicism
and remained in Antwerp. The disc ends with three pieces from
one of his three collections of lute music. Adriaenssen's fame
spread across Europe; he also founded a lute school, and Van
den Hove may have been his pupil. One last name needs to be
mentioned: Diomedes Cato. Favorito was included by
Van den Hove in one of his lute books. Cato was an Italian lutenist
who worked in Poland.
This disc pays tribute to an important part of the European
lute repertoire of the late renaissance. The titles reflect
the kind of music which was popular at the time. We are given
an insight into the repertoire which was played among the affluent
circles of society. The liner-notes are informative, but I would
have liked the author to have given some information about the
popular tunes included in the programme. It would have helped
to understand the character of the various lute arrangements.
This omission doesn't spoil enjoyment of this disc, though.
Anthony Bailes is one of the veterans of the renaissance and
baroque lute, and has many superb recordings to his name. This
CD is another gem, showing the full power of his musicianship.
He catches the character of every single piece perfectly. The
depth of Van den Hove's Pauan Lachrimae comes off just
as well as the lightness and whit of Daer is een Leeuwerck
doot ghevallen. His articulation and subtle treatment of
dynamics contribute to the communication of this repertoire.
The recording has exactly the amount of intimacy which this
repertoire needs. In short, a delightful disc.
Johan van Veen
http://www.musica-dei-donum.org
https://twitter.com/johanvanveen
Complete track listing:
anon
Met dat schuijtgen al over dat meertgen (536) [1:25]
Jan Dirrixz (572) [0:44]
In een groot ongheluck (550) [1:31]
T'souw een meijsken gaen om wijn (533) [0:58]
Mr. DAVID
(?David Janszoon PADBRUÉ, c.1553-1635)
Ick lijd' int hart pijn onghewoon (513) [3:16]
anon
Daer is een Leeuwerck doot ghevallen (512) [1:27]
Gregorio HUWET (before 1550-c.1616)
Fantasia [4:49]
Nicolas VALLET (c.1583-after
1644)
Prelude [1:33]
Onder de lindegroene [2:03]
Pavanne en forme de complainte [4:49]
Chançon angloise [2:27]
Gregorio HUWET
Fantasia [2:55]
Joachim VAN DEN HOVE (1567-1620)
Praeludium (27) [2:11]
Almande (238) [2:16]
Pauana Lachrimae (200) [6:03]
Susanneken (271) [1:11]
Het Laeste Leijtsche Afscheyt, tussen Do. Martino Dalemio
ende Joachimus van den Hove, in Leyden den 12 Juny 1613
(20) [3:51]
Diomedes CATO (c.1560/65-after
1607/18)
Favorito (294) [3:26]
Joachim VAN DEN HOVE
Windeken (294) [1:42]
Fantasia sexta (57) [3:01]
Almande (240) [2:08]
Gaillarde geschreven ter Eeren mijnen Goeden Vrient Adam
Leenaerts, in Leijden den 17 Jan. anno 1615 (217) [1:54]
Chanson Flameng (286) [2:10]
Emanuel ADRIAENSSEN (c.1554-1604)
Canson Englesa - Altra Canson Englesa - Saltarello Englesa
[2:10]
[The numbers between brackets refer to the numbers in the Thysius
Lute Book (tracks 1-6) and the edition of the collected lute
music of Joachim van den Hove (tracks 13-23)]
Anthony Bailes (lute)
