Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
An Elizabethan Christmas / Fretwork
Signum Classics

An Elizabethan Christmas / Fretwork

$19.99

Details

Composer
VARIOUS
Artist
Charlston, Fretwork
Format
CD
Label
Signum Classics
Released
Sep 03, 2021
Catalog #
SIGCD680
UPC
635212068021

About

Viol consort Fretwork and mezzo soprano Helen Charlston explore the more reflective and sombre Christmas celebrations of Elizabethan England, in a collection of works by William Byrd, Anthony Holborne, Orlando Gibbons and Martin Peerson. With celebrations confined strictly to the 12 days from Christmas Eve to Epiphany, the preceding Advent was regarded as a time of religious introspection, with music composed to mark both fasting and feasting. Byrd’s consort songs for voice and 5 viols encompass this range, from the joyous Out of the Orient Crystal Skies – ending with an exuberant ‘Falantidingdido’, a word whose meaning is lost to history – to his Lullaby, a ‘song of sadnes and pietie’ that became one of Byrd’s most enduringly famous songs.

In 2021, Fretwork celebrates its 35th anniversary. In the past three and a half decades they have explored the core repertory of great English consort music, from Taverner to Purcell, and made classic recordings against which others are judged. In addition to this, Fretwork have become known as pioneers of contemporary music for viols, having commissioned over 40 new works. Acclaimed for her musical interpretation, presence and “warmly distinctive tone” (The Telegraph), Helen Charlston is quickly cementing herself as a key performer in the next generation of British singers. Helen won first prize in the 2018 Handel Singing Competition and was a finalist in the Hurn Court Opera Competition, and the Grange Festival International Singing Competition.

Tracklist 17 tracks

  1. 1 Out of the Orient Crystal Skies 03:37
    Track
    1
    Title
    Out of the Orient Crystal Skies
    Duration
    03:37
    Composer
    William Byrd
    Performer
    Helen Charlston
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  2. 2 Pavan, "Paradizo" 02:00
    Track
    2
    Title
    Pavan, "Paradizo"
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Antony Holborne
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  3. 3 As it fell on a Holy Eve 01:00
    Track
    3
    Title
    As it fell on a Holy Eve
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Antony Holborne
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  4. 4 From virgin's womb: Rejoice, rejoice 06:49
    Track
    4
    Title
    From virgin's womb: Rejoice, rejoice
    Duration
    06:49
    Composer
    William Byrd
    Performer
    Helen Charlston, Emma Walshe, Lucy Cox, Amy Lyddon
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  5. 5 The cradle (arr. for chamber ensemble) 02:54
    Track
    5
    Title
    The cradle (arr. for chamber ensemble)
    Duration
    02:54
    Composer
    Antony Holborne
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  6. 6 Lullaby 01:33
    Track
    6
    Title
    Lullaby
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Antony Holborne
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  7. 7 Lullaby, my sweet little baby 12:40
    Track
    7
    Title
    Lullaby, my sweet little baby
    Duration
    12:40
    Composer
    William Byrd
    Performer
    Helen Charlston
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  8. 8 Fantasia No. 1 a 4 04:41
    Track
    8
    Title
    Fantasia No. 1 a 4
    Duration
    04:41
    Composer
    Orlando Gibbons
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  9. 9 An earthly tree 06:19
    Track
    9
    Title
    An earthly tree
    Duration
    06:19
    Composer
    William Byrd
    Performer
    Helen Charlston, Emma Walshe, Amy Lyddon, Guy Cutting, Malachy Frame
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  10. 10 Attendite 04:34
    Track
    10
    Title
    Attendite
    Duration
    04:34
    Composer
    Martin Peerson
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  11. 11 Upon my lap my soveraigne sits (from Private Musicke) 07:14
    Track
    11
    Title
    Upon my lap my soveraigne sits (from Private Musicke)
    Duration
    07:14
    Composer
    Martin Peerson
    Performer
    Helen Charlston, Amy Lyddon, Malachy Frame, Edmund Saddington
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  12. 12 To Shorten Winter's Sadnesse 02:34
    Track
    12
    Title
    To Shorten Winter's Sadnesse
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Thomas Weelkes
    Performer
    Helen Charlston
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  13. 13 Fantasia No. 2 a 4, "great dooble basse" 04:56
    Track
    13
    Title
    Fantasia No. 2 a 4, "great dooble basse"
    Duration
    04:56
    Composer
    Orlando Gibbons
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  14. 14 Sweet was the song the virgin sung 02:10
    Track
    14
    Title
    Sweet was the song the virgin sung
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Helen Charlston
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  15. 15 The Queenes New Year's Gift 01:21
    Track
    15
    Title
    The Queenes New Year's Gift
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Antony Holborne
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  16. 16 Heigh ho holiday 00:59
    Track
    16
    Title
    Heigh ho holiday
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Antony Holborne
    Ensemble
    Fretwork
  17. 17 O God that guides the cheerful sun 05:58
    Track
    17
    Title
    O God that guides the cheerful sun
    Duration
    05:58
    Composer
    William Byrd
    Performer
    Helen Charlston, Lucy Cox, Amy Lyddon, Guy Cutting, Malachy Frame, Edmund Saddington
    Ensemble
    Fretwork