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(More customer reviews)THE KING'S SINGERS: SOMETIMES HOT, SOMETIMES COLD!
The madrigal form, as it developed throughout Europe, is chronicled with precision and great attention to detail by England's King's Singers. From its original appearance in Italy in the 1530's, the form-characterized by polyphonic texture, in the secular equivalent of the motet-was popular in England, Germany, Spain and France. Madrigals were the music of the people; they were written in the vernacular, expressed common themes of love and desire, and were often accompanied by dancing. The liner notes go into some detail about the history, etc. and provide the words of each song.
There are seven from Italy, seven from England ( I think they sing these best of all.) eight from France, six from Spain, and six from Germany (These I'm not fond of, but it could be that the Singers do not adapt to these as well.) Most of the madrigals are quite short, but the two well-known of relatively large proportion are included on this line-up: 'La Bamba' by Flecha (takes an impressionistic approach to the Christmas story), and 'La guerre' (includes vocal imitations of battle noises) by Janequin.
On this disc there are six singers: two countertenors (Jeremy Jackman-Alastair Hume); one tenor (Bill Ives); two baritones (Anthony Holt-Simon Carrington) and one bass (Colin Mason). I think that their ever-changing personnel has improved in the last 10 years, especially in the countertenor line-up. To my listening ears Jeremy Jackman has a thin, puny and nondescript tone quality that is totally bland and undramatic. At that time I heard this group in concert with Jackman and prior to that I felt that perhaps the recording sound was causing some of this 'thinness' of quality, but not true; it was the same in a 'live' concert situation. His rendition of the usually impressive 'Silver Swan' by Gibbons is a big disappointment. And it puzzles me because in 1983 in England there were some excellent countertenors available (Michael Chance being one of them).
So actually, although the selection is unquestionably outstanding, the singing is NOT.! It's not bad singing, just not very exciting! (Take note that the other Disc listed on this website is the SAME RECORDING).
Recorded in 1983, the precision and disipline of the group shows through, but however technically accomplished they are, Anthony Rooley's Consort of Musicke provides an appropriate and agreeable, as well as KNOWLEDGEABLE accompaniment. In fact, the 'Singers' give Rooley some of the credit for their ability to perform this music correctly within its framework.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Madrigal History Tour
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