Baltimore Consort Albums (11)
'Ladyes Delight: Entertainment Music of Elizabethan England'
Release Date 1/1/1998
Tracks 22
Label Dorian
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Baltimore Consort is well-known for their skillful renditions of Renaissance music, and Ladyes Delight, their 1998 release, definitely continues that tradition. Here they perform the "broken consort," or mixed-ensemble secular music, for instruments such as bandora, cittern, viol, flute, and lute. The melodies are resplendent with the multiple layers and textures that the artists offer with much joyous enthusiasm, from the lucidly balladic "Yonder Comes a Courteous Knight" to the cheerfully lilting "Jumpe at My Cozen." This is another must-have album for Renaissance music collectors. ~ Murrday Fisher, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The Baltimore Consort returns with a British Isles focus on their album Tunes From the Attic. As is characteristic of their performances, whether ballads such as "Oh, How Happy's He" or a wide-ranging variety of instrumentals employing bagpipes, cittern, recorder and wooden flute, or (as with "Joyne Hands") treble viol, they bring clarity and exemplary skill to their work. Fans of both classical and Renaissance music are sure to appreciate this release. ~ Murrday Fisher, All Music Guide
'Bright Day Star: Music for the Yuletide Seasons'
Release Date 10/4/1994
Tracks 20
Label Dorian
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
It's important to know the difference between 20th century Christmas pop and European Christmas folk carols. While favorites like "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Jingle Bells," and Mel Tormé's "The Christmas Song" are examples of American Christmas pop, Bright Day Star: Music for the Yuletide Season focuses largely on traditional European Christmas carols. Most of the songs that the Baltimore Consort embraces on this CD date back to 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th century Europe, although a few are American folk pieces that originated in Appalachia in the 20th century. The European Yuletide carols or dance songs that the Consort (which has an engaging female soprano vocalist in Custer LaRue) chose for Bright Day Star range from Irish ("The Wren Song") and British ("Drive the Cold Winter Away," "Hey, For Christmas") to German ("Wir Singen Dir, Immanuel"). All of these songs are a product of Christian traditions, and yet, one needn't embrace the Christian faith to appreciate them. Just as one can enjoy Indian ragas without being a Hindu, listeners can appreciate this CD's richness whether or not they actually celebrate Christmas. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
'La Rocque 'N' Roll: Popular Music Of Renaissance France'
Release Date 1/1/1993
Tracks 26
Label Dorian
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Anyone with a taste for Renaissance French music will surely enjoy Baltimore Consort's wide ranging collection La Rocque 'N' Roll. From the lilting flute of "Branle Double" to the lucid vocals on "Mignonne, Allons Voir Si La Rose" to the soulful violin on "Gaillarde D' Escosse," each of the 26 selections is performed with care, skill, and grace. Baltimore Consort is well known for the excellence of their performances, and this album certainly upholds their tradition of clarity and quality. ~ Murrday Fisher, All Music Guide
'Watkins Ale: Music of the English Renaissance'
Release Date 1/1/1991
Tracks 20
Label Dorian
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This charming collection Renaissance songs and dance tunes followed on the heels of a similar collection of Scottish music from the same period (On the Banks of Helicon), and was itself followed some years later by The Mad Buckgoat, which focused on early music in Ireland. Of the three albums, the Scottish one is the best, but Watkins Ale is a close second. The program draws on material both familiar ("There Were Three Ravens," "Green Sleeves") and obscure, and juxtaposes melancholy consort music by John Dowland and Thomas Morley with dances and bawdy tunes. The playing of the Baltimore Consort is exquisite, as always, with special recognition due to flutist Chris Norman and gamba player Mary Anne Ballard. While they spend most of their time playing gently and elegantly, this is a group that also knows how to rock out when the music calls for it. The music calls for it a bit less frequently on Watkins Ale than it did on Banks of Helicon, but the program includes a nicely varied array of moods and textures. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
'On the Banks of Helicon: Early Music of Scotland'
Release Date 1/1/1990
Tracks 22
Label Dorian
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The Baltimore Consort has made three albums of early music from the British Isles; this one, which demonstrates the connections between traditional Celtic music and the art music of late Renaissance and early Baroque Scotland, is perhaps the best. The program is, by turns, a joyful romp and a sweet lament, a combination of earthy ballads and elegant parlor dance tunes. Singer Custer LaRue is a delight as always, and here manages a pretty fair Scots burr, but guest artist Edwin George's performances on period bagpipes are especially noteworthy (particularly on the affecting rendition of "Over the Hills and Far Away" that opens the album). Flutist Chris Norman is also a central attraction -- his equal facility with folk and classical idioms has always been a special hallmark of his playing, and that skill is utilized perfectly on this program. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
It's important to know the difference between 20th century Christmas pop and European Christmas folk carols. While favorites like "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Jingle Bells," and Mel Tormé's "The Christmas Song" are examples of American Christmas pop, Bright Day Star: Music for the Yuletide Season focuses largely on traditional European Christmas carols. Most of the songs that the Baltimore Consort embrace on this CD date back to 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th-century Europe, although a few are American folk pieces that originated in Appalachia in the 20th century. The European Yuletide carols or dance songs that the Consort (which has an engaging female soprano vocalist in Custer LaRue) chose for Bright Day Star range from Irish ("The Wren Song") and British ("Drive the Cold Winter Away," "Hey, for Christmas") to German ("Wir Singen Dir, Immanuel"). All of these songs are a product of Christian traditions, and yet, one needn't embrace the Christian faith to appreciate them. Just as one can enjoy Indian ragas without being a Hindu, listeners can appreciate this CD's richness whether or not they actually celebrate Christmas. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
