Thys Yool
Personent Hodie [2.02]; Judas
and Wenceslas [1.31]; HyerMatin
[5.07]; Miri it is while sumer ilast
[1.52]; Man mei longelives weene
[5.26]; ThysYool [1.03]; Tapster,
drynker [1.15]; Ja pour hyver
[4.27]; Gabriel from Heven-King
[2.26]; Song of the Nuns of Chester
[3.11]; Hail Mary full of grace
[4.11]; As I lay on Yoolis Night
[3.39]; Edi be thu [2.09]; Perperit
Virgo [2.49]; O Virgo Splendens
[2.20]; Loor de Santa Maria [1.56];
Polorum Regina [2.57]; Mariam
Matron [2.02]; I pray you all
[2.09]; Ther is no rose [4.42];
CaligoTerraeScinditur [2.01];
Princeps Pacis [3.13]; Mors
vitae Propitia [1.17]
Martin Best (voice, lute, psaltery),
Lucie Skeaping (voice, rebecs, fidele),
David Corkhill (dulcimer, drums, bells),
Jeremy Barlow (pipes, recorders, transverse
flute), Donna Deam (soprano), Kristine
Szulil (alto), Angus Smith (tenor).
rec. Wyastone Leys, 4-5 May 1988. DDD
NIMBUS NI5137 [64:08];
This Nimbus disc of
1988 features mediaeval music from Europe,
and focuses on six elements of the nativity.
It opens with Personent Hodie
under the heading "Sing today of Joy".
Seven songs depict "Winter and Wassail";
six represent "A Child is Born"; four,
all from Spain, describe "Mary Mother,
Queen of Heaven" and another four "Mary’s
Son, Goodwill on Earth". The disc ends
with the twelfth century French Mors
Vitae Propitia to represent "Rebirth".
This makes for a good sense of story-line
and progression, and yet the programming
also allows for great variety within
these sections, to keep interest.
The artists, under
the collective name of the Matthew Best
Ensemble, include top musicians in their
fields, such as Martin Best himself
(voice, lute and psaltery) and Lucie
Skeaping (voice, rebecs and fidele).
The disc commences
with a sense of great joy in Personent
Hodie – a feeling that is maintained
by the ensuing Judas and Wenceslas
- an instrumental piece that joins the
Polish tune Jesuza Judasz Przendal
with the more familiar Good King
Wenceslas melody. The high spirits
– and excellent music-making - continue
with Hyer Matin. Miri it is
while sumer ilast follows – here
most sweetly and delicately sung. Martin
Best is very atmospheric in Man mei
longelives weene, which he imbues
with great feeling. More exultation
is to be found in Tapster, drynker
and the eponymous Thys Yool where
the slightly rough edge to Best’s voice
working well towards the mediaeval air.
The next song Ja pour hyver is
a contrast, with its deeply religious
air. I loved the whistling that opens
Gabriel from Heven-King – a pleasantly
informal and carefree touch. This is
nicely juxtaposed with the serenity
of the next song, the Song of the
Nuns of Chester. The following four
songs - Hail Mary Full of Grace,
As I Lay on Yoolis night, Edi
be Thu, and Peperit Virgo
- may be familiar to listeners from
other mediaeval and Christmas compilations,
and are all given excellent renditions
here. The four Spanish songs are radiantly
performed, combining lively and exultant
melodies with more peaceful atmospheres.
The four songs in the fifth section,
"Mary’s Son, Goodwill on Earth", are
all from fourteenth and fifteenth century
England. There is much to be appreciated
here - not least the justly much-loved
There is No Rose, here given
a fine performance. The disc concludes
with a vibrant version of Mors Vitae
Propitia.
This is a lovely disc
– the selection of songs and dances
is well-chosen to both complement and
contrast, the Martin Best Ensemble re-create
a mediaeval feel brilliantly, and the
musicianship is of a high standard.
Em Marshall
see also review by
Brian
Wilson
Martin Best Ensemble/Martin Best 
