Availability Bandcamp

In the Garden of Polyphony: French Renaissance Music for Lute & Guitar
Israel Golani (lute and guitar)
rec. 14-17 June 2020, Lutheran Church, Groningen
SOLAIRE RECORDS SOL1010 [67:58]

Israel Golani has appeared on numerous CDs but this is his first solo recording, and you could hardly ask for a better label on which to debut. Solaire Records has established a reputation for lavish documentation and excellent presentation to go along with state of the art recording quality, and this release is no exception. In the Garden of Polyphony comes in a nice slipcase with a glossy 56-page booklet including essays, images and vocal texts associated with some of the songs in this purely instrumental release.

Israel Golani’s programme presents some of the greatest of Renaissance repertoire written for lute and guitar. Two six-course lutes plus a four-course guitar are used, and the subtle contrasts of timbre between each adds to the vibrant quality of this recording. We are told that Golani refined his technique, including studies with guitarist Frank Bungarten, in order to master the virtuosity demanded by some of these pieces, and in order to make his instruments sing and to project their expressive potential to the full. Golani himself has spoken of his love for the human voice in music as well as the lute. In drawing on repertoire that took its inspiration from chansons and folk songs this aspect of melodic line combined with refined harmonies and dance rhythms makes for a heady mix, the skilled performance of which should by no means be underestimated.

We are in safe hands here. Israel Golani’s playing is a delicious balance between seemingly effortless and beautifully well-tuned harmony, and natural sounding, spaciously breathing melodies. The recording is nicely atmospheric, set in a generous church acoustic, but is also close and detailed as it has to be with such relatively delicate sounding instruments. There is however very little in terms of distracting noise. Golani isn’t a heavy breather, and while there is occasionally some light fingerboard punctuation this music predates the invention of wound strings by about a century, so there are no sliding ‘squeals’ with changes of hand position.

Each piece is a gem in its own right, and the programme has been carefully chosen to contrast dance pieces with songs that are often melancholy and soulful. There are download options on the Solaire website, but I would urge you to go for the CD as this is just such a nice object to have.

Dominy Clements

Contents
Albert de RIPPE (ca. 1500-1551)
Pleurez mes yeux [3:16]
Clément JANEQUIN (ca. 1485-1558)
C'est mon amy [1:02]
Pierre ATTAINGNANT (ca. 1494-1552)
Branle gay "C'est mon amy" [1:05]
Pierre PHALÈSE (ca. 1510-1573)
Allemande [1:00]
Branles de Bourgogne [1:06]
ANON
Amy souffrez [2:18]
Pierre ATTAINGNANT
Fortune laisse moy [1:35]
Adrian Le ROY (ca. 1520-1598)
Fantasie seconde [1:43]
Pimontoyse [1:30]
Simon GORLIER (fl. 1551-1562)
Il ne se trouve en amytié [3:40]
Pierre PHALÈSE
Gaillarde Milanoise [1:00]
C'est grand plaisir [1:32]
Jean-Paul PALADIN (fl. 1549-1565)
De trop penser [2:22]
Guillaume MORLAYE (ca. 1510-ca. 1558)
Gaillarde [2:00]
Est il douleur cruelle [3:36]
Julien BELIN (ca. 1525-after 1584)
Trio [3:02]
Pierre ATTAINGNANT
Dont vient cela [2:00]
Gaillarde "Dont vient cela" [1:54]
Dolent départ [2:18]
Adrian Le ROY
Branles de Bourgogne [1:14]
ANON
Premier branle d'Escosse [2:22]
Pierre ATTAINGNANT
Basse dance "Beure frais" [2:22]
Albert de RIPPE
Fantasie quatriesme [5:05]
Pierre PHALÈSE
Paduane [1:07]
Albert de RIPPE
Un jour le temps [4:12]
Pierre PHALÈSE
Ung gay bergier [2:17]
Auprès de vous [2:29]
Pierre ATTAINGNANT
Basse dance "Auprès de vous" [2:09]
Adrian Le ROY
Fantasie première [2:52]
Guillaume MORLAYE
Pleurez mes yeux [2:53]