A rather unappealing
cover design verifies the proverb never
judge a book (or CD), by its cover!
Lutenist Jacob Heringman here presents
an engaging compilation of lute music
from sixteenth century Italy. These
works have been preserved mainly in
the eponymous Siena Lute Book,
whilst a few tracks come from the less
substantial and less meticulously-organised
Medici lute book, so-called on
account of the Medici insignia on the
first page. Despite the fact that the
Siena Lute Book has ended up
in The Hague and the Medici book
in Haslemere (Dolmetsch Library), they
both originate from Tuscany and are
mostly in the same hand of an anonymous
scribe. The disc comprises works by
both top musicians of the day, such
as Perino Florentino and Francesco da
Milano and by anonymous composers, as
well as contemporary arrangements of
songs. In a number of cases Jacob Heringman
has rearranged or reconstructed the
works for their present versions.
The playing itself
is exemplary, unsurprisingly so given
Heringman's expertise in this area.
The works are charming and sweet to
the ear if possibly a little uninspiring
at times. Whilst the theory goes that
by ranging from fantasias and arrangements
of French songs to madrigals and dances,
this CD offers an assortment of lute
music giving an idea of the broad spectrum
of works current at the time, in practice
the sound offers little respite or variation
and could possibly, depending on the
listener’s devotion towards renaissance
lute music, wear a little thin. For
the fan, however, this collection offers
a good selection of both unknown and
better-known works, delightfully and
authoritatively performed by one whose
passion for this delicate, lilting,
elegant and often courtly music clearly
shines through.
One rather felt that
the presentation and design of this
CD does not do its contents, or the
high standard of Heringman’s playing,
justice. Dismal front cover aside, the
sleeve-notes could be more comprehensive,
both in terms of clarification (Richard
Falkenstein, in the main discussion
of the disc, refers to the Medici
Lute Book as "Haslemere", whereas
elsewhere in the booklet it is consistently
called the Medici Lute Book,
thereby inviting confusion) and in terms
of Heringman's own notes on the tracks,
which cover a seemingly randomly selected
14 tracks out of the 26! The sound is
excellent. One for lute music devotees,
one feels, though, rather than for a
wider audience.
Em Marshall