John Ward Consort Music [KS]: Classical CD Reviews- Sept 2003 MusicWeb(UK)

Your clickable banner could be here: details If you cannot see an advert click here.

Early Music

Classical Editor: Rob Barnett Founder Len Mullenger

BUY NOW

Crotchet AmazonUK AmazonUS Midprice

John WARD (ca.1589-1638)
Upon a Bank with Roses - Consort Music
Upon a bank with roses a 5 [2:32]
Fantasia No. 1 a 4 [2:55]
In nominee No. 1 a 6 [3:27]
Fantasia No. 7 a 4 [2:18]
Leggiardra Sei a 5 [4:01]
Fantasia No. 7 in c a 4 [3:53]
Aire 1 in A a 2 & B.c. [1:37]
Aire 2 in A a 2 & B.c. [1:11]
Fantasia No. 4 in G a 6 [3:53]
In nominee No. 2 a 6 [3:19]
O say, dear life a 3 [1:40]
Fly not so fast a 3 [1:59]
Fantasia No. 1 in a a 5 [3:22]
Fantasia No. 5 in a a 4 [3:00]
Fantasia No. 6 in C a 4 [2:43]
Aire 6 in D a 2 & B.c. [1:45]
Aire a 5 in D a 2 & B.c. [1:38]
Fantasia No. 6 in A a 5 [3:10]
Non fu senze a 5 [2:52]
In nominee a 5 [3:15]
Cor mio, deh non languire a 5 [3:04]
Sweet Philomel a 5 [2:32]
In nominee No. 5 a 4 [3:49]
Fantasia No. 5 in g a 6 [2:44]
Fantasia No. 6 in c a 6 [4:11]
The Rose Consort of Viols
John Bryan, Alison Crum, Sarah Groser, Ray Marks, Susanna Pell, Peter Wendland, viols. John Bryan, organ
Rec: Ford Abbey, April 7-10 1998. DDD
CPO 999 928-2 [71:38]

There is no indication that John Ward was a professional musician, rather it is more likely that he was employed as a secretary. He was however, an adept composer who left behind a number of compositions that he deemed suitable for either viols or voices.

The Rose Consort have given us a beautifully played assortment of Mr. Ward’s music for viols. Closely modeled on the Italian madrigal, which was all the rage at the time of these compositions, these works are obviously based on poetic models. If the listener is at all familiar with the madrigal as a genre, he will immediately recognize the text-painting techniques and rather heightened emotions typical of the madrigal, only translated into an instrumental form.

The string consort music of the late sixteenth/early seventeenth century is, to these ears, some of the sweetest and most soothing music ever penned. There is, however, the slight problem that the interchangeability of voices and instruments caused; without a text, the music does begin to have a lulling sameness about it. Whether or not this is a detriment to enjoyment I happily leave for the listener to decide. I personally adore this body of repertoire, and find that it has uses both academic and therapeutic.

As for this performance, there is not a thing to criticize. The Rose Consort is a fine ensemble that plays spot in tune and with a loving sense of the rise and fall of a musical line. I found that the four works that include organ continuo to be of special merit, but there are certainly no losers here at all.

The production values of this disc are up to cpo’s customary impeccable standard, with thorough program notes, beautiful packaging and superior sound quality. For more than an hour of pleasant musical delights, this is a winner on all counts. Recommended highly.

Kevin Sutton

Advertising Rates
Visitor stats
MusicWeb International
has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer

Discs received

Gerard Hoffnung Concerts &
The Bricklayer Story

New Releases

MusicWeb sells the Polish
catalogue CDAccord
£10.50 post free W-W

MusicWeb sells the
Arcodiva catalogue
£12.00 post free W-W

£11.75
post-free world- wide

MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues:
Prices include postage

[Acte Préalable £13.50]
[Arcodiva £12.00]
[Avie from £6.25]
[British Music Society £12.00]
[CDACCORD from £13.50 ]
[ClassicO £12.50]
[Hallé from £11]
[Heritage £10]
[Hortus £14.99 ]
[Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ]
[Nimbus Special prices]
[Northern Flowers £13.50]
[REDCLIFFE £11 ]
[Sheva £11]
[Tactus £11.50 ]
[Talent from £12.00 ]
[Toccata Classics £10.50 ]

Musicweb
Special Offers

Monthly Best Buys

Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.
Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com


Return to Index

Untitled Document

Reviews from previous months
Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the discs reviewed. details
We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin Board
Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to which you refer.