The performers aimed for fidelity to the original music, making only minimal changes and avoiding any hint of a crossover, ensuring ornaments are stylistically close to the original literature.
Instruments
The recorder plays a significant role in this album, sometimes as an upper voice, sometimes as a middle voice, reflecting its extreme popularity in England until the 18th century.
Interpretation
Cantus Thuringia's approach to interpretation is based on 'Purity,' focusing on the notes and allowing words and melodies to create a natural effect without artificial ingredients or extreme tempi.
Interpretation
Cantus Thuringia, the vocal ensemble on this album, was drawn to this program by the intimacy of the reduced resources, a contrast to their previous recordings with larger German repertoire.
Historical Context
Despite 132 years separating the birth of John Dowland (a Renaissance composer) and the death of Henry Purcell (a Baroque composer), their music shares common features due to a long-standing English vocal and choral tradition.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album explores the theme of melancholy, a constant feature in English music of the 16th and 17th centuries, found in both secular Renaissance music and sacred Baroque music.
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