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Mortua dulce cano. A Florilegium of Late Renaissance Lute Music

3/4/2022, 27 Tracks, 1:04:44

Featuring

  • Michał Gondko
  • Giulio Cesare Barbetta
  • Anonymous
  • Vincenzo Galilei
  • Lorenzino Tracetti
  • Simone Molinaro
  • Giovanni Battista Domenico
  • Kasper Sielicki
  • Jacob Reys
  • Diomedes Cato
  • Valentin Bakfark
  • Nicolas de Rans
  • Matthias Reymann
  • Johannes Spalkaiber
  • Benedict de Drusina
  • John Hoskins
  • Baruch Bulman
  • Alfonso Ferrabosco the elder
  • Robert Askue
  • John Whitfield

Did you know?

1/7

Historical Context

Padua, Italy, in 1595 was a 'lute player's paradise' due to its university attracting students, eminent lutenists, local instrument makers like Wendelin Tieffenbrucker, and lute music publications from nearby Venice.

Source: Booklet

Album & Artwork

The album title, 'Mortua dulce cano,' is Latin for 'Dead, I sing sweetly,' and refers to the lute's transformation from a living tree to a musical instrument.

Source: Booklet

Interpretation

Michał Gondko, the performer, chose to feature more obscure English lutenists of John Dowland's era, intentionally omitting Dowland's works due to the attention his oeuvre already receives.

Source: Booklet

Instruments

The 'Presbyter' lute's string tension is kept at an acceptable minimum to prevent damage to its fragile soundboard, allowing it to sing sweetly at a lower pitch than when it was new.

Source: Booklet

Recording & Production

The album was conceived and recorded by Michał Gondko during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, which provided an unexpected opportunity for the solo project.

Source: Booklet

Recording & Production

This recording is dedicated to the memory of Julian Bream (1933-2020) and Konrad Ragossnig (1932-2018), two influential lutenists.

Source: Booklet

Instruments

The album features an anonymous lute from 1595, known as the 'Presbyter' lute, which is one of the oldest playable lutes in existence.

Source: Booklet

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