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| Watkins Ale: Music of the English Renaissance | 
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| Creators: Ann Marie Morgan, Richard Alison, Anonymous, English Anonymous, William Byrd, John Dowland, Jean D' Estree, John [composer] Johnson, Thomas Morley, Richard Nicholson, Thomas Ravenscroft, English Traditional, Baltimore Consort, Howard Bass
Label: Dorian Recordings
Category: Music
List Price: $21.98
Buy New: $14.47
You Save: $7.51 (34%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $10.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  (11 reviews)
Sales Rank: 78253
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 90142
UPC: 053479014221
EAN: 0053479014221
ASIN: B000001Q8Q
Release Date: May 22, 1992
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 pure artistic joy-bottled and caught up on a compact disc June 6, 2001
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
I have already noted my fondness for The Baltimore Consort, and Custer LaRue in particular, elsewhere...but I still feel compelled to praise this album--"Watkins Ale." It is awesome. "Watkins Ale" is, like most of The Consort's recordings, pure artistic joy-bottled and caught up on a compact disc. LaRue's singing, and the playing of the rest of the crew, is absolutely stunning. "There Were Three Ravens" is a deep, beautifully dark, introspective masterpiece. Some of the instrumentals are worth the price of the disc by themselves. The rendition of Dowland's Lachrimae Pavan is--like the rest of the disc--sheer brilliance! If I've put too many commas in my review, it is because I lack the proper superlatives for the task at hand...I recommend this CD most highly.
Exquisite music in a superbly rendered recording December 20, 2000
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
The Baltimore Consort will ever be one of my favorite Renaissance recording artists. Nearly everything they have recorded is worth listening to. They combine superb musicianship with period instruments -- the only way to listen to and appreciate this style of music. In "Watkins Ale," the Baltimore Consort plays dance music from the Elizabethan era. Most of the tunes, therefore, are quite upbeat. I have caught myself wanting to dance jigs (OK, OK, so I actually DID dance to this music)while listening! The "low point" for me on this album (only because it's a bit slower) is the classic ballad "There Were Three Ravens." And yet Custer LaRue's exquisite soprano voice -- unpretentious, sonorous, melodic -- certainly will not make you shut the recording off by any stretch of the imagination. I like "Unto the Prophet Jonas I Read," which is a charming musical retelling of the Jonah and the Whale story (again with LaRue's lovely soprano), and which likely will make you want to sing the chorus with her. I could go on praising the album. I've had it for a couple of years now, and still play it over and over!
Captures the spirit of a live performance June 14, 2000
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
A few years ago I had the privilege of seeing the Baltimore Consort perform live. It was an electrifying evening filled with great energy and sound. This CD manages to capture that. It is an excellent recording that definitely does justice to the material.In addition, the selection of song is varied and allows a lot of the period specific instruments to demonstrate what kind of sound they can make. Also, I always consider it a bonus when the lyrics to the songs are included. I think its even better (and rarer) when that happens with early Renaissance music. In this case, the CD not only come with the lyrics in English, but in German and French as well.
An exquisite collection of English Renaissance Music April 28, 2000
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
My eighth grade English teacher taught me and a few friends adance to go with "The Buffens" for a Renaissance play we puton for my school. I loved the song so much that I went out and bought this cd for myself, and am continuing to enjoy it. I normally don't listen to this type of music, but it is just too good to pass up! :)
An exquisite collection of English Renaissance Music April 28, 2000
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
My eighth grade English teacher taught me and a few friends a dance to go with "The Buffens" for a Renaissance play we put on for my school. I loved the song so much that I went out and bought this cd for myself, and am continuing to enjoy it. I normally don't listen to this type of music, but it is just too good to pass up! :)
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