Lyrichord Early Music Series
Our latest Oberlin releases include a magnificient collection of John Dowland Lute Songs, accompanied in the true Elizabethan performance style by Lutenist Joseph Iadone, as well as the Music of William Byrd with the Inomine Players, directed by Denis Stevens. The Dowland disc recently got four stars from the New York Daily News's Terry Teachout.
Russell Oberlin, Countertenor
Seymour Barab, Viol
These are the songs of the Troubadours, medieval poet-minstrels of Southern France, and their Northern counterparts the Trouvères. During the two hundred year period of their poetic movement, the Troubadours created what is perhaps the greatest repertory of secular song ever produced in Europe. This is a superlative collection of courtly love songs and laments by some of that era's greatest Troubadours, exquisitely performed by the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, under the direction of Saville Clark.
Includes extensive liner notes by Saville Clark.
Russell Oberlin, Countertenor
Charles Bressler, Donald Perry, Tenors
Seymour Barab, Viol
Almost eight centuries have passed since Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris, began the construction of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, one of the most magnificent centers of worship ever erected. At the same time, Notre Dame's composer Leonin completed his grandiose plan of providing polyphonic settings for celebration of the major liturgical feast days at the new Cathedral. Thirty years later his successor, Perotin expanded and enlarged on these works. These complex and pivotal compositions are performed to perfection by an exceptional vocal trio that is truly equal to the task, featuring the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, Charles Bressler and Donald Perry, tenors, with Seymour Barab viol, under the direction of Saville Clarke.
Includes liner notes by William G. Waite, and
full Latin texts with English translations.
Russell Oberlin, Countertenor
Joseph Iadone, Lute
The court of Del Rey Alfonso El Sabio (a.k.a: "El Sabio the Wise"), ruler of Spain from 1252 until 1284, was the center of a great output of intellectual and artistic activity. The twelve songs (or "Cantigas") on this recording are some of the fruits of that activity, and certainly must rank among the most beautiful melodies ever written for voice. These works, sung in the original Galician language in which they were written, are exquisitely performed by the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, possibly the greatest countertenor of our century, with Joseph Iadone, lute, under the direction of Saville Clark.
Includes extensive liner notes by Saville Clark, Ernesto G. Da Cal, with translations from Galician by Murrey Hargrove with Aurelio M. Espinosa.
Russell Oberlin, Countertenor
Charles Bressler, Tenor
Donald Perry, Tenor
Seymour Barab, Viol
Martha Blackman, Viol
England was an intensely musical country during the reigns of Edward I and II,(1272-1327) and a good indication of the incredibly sophisticated formal and stylistic advances of that time, both musical and literary, can be heard in these thirteen examples of medieval English Polyphony. The texts to some of these lively and delightfully intricate motets are sung in Latin, and others in the newly official language of the realm; Middle English.
These rarely heard works are performed to perfection by an exceptional vocal trio that is truly equal to the task, featuring the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, Charles Bressler and Donald Perry, tenors, with Seymour Barab and Martha Blackman viols, all under the direction of Saville Clarke.
Includes liner notes by Dennis Stevens and William
Bittner, with full Latin and Middle English texts, with English
translations.
Russell Oberlin, Countertenor
Seymour Barab, Viol
Very few early English songs survive. Continental modal forms, fused with lost musical structures and traditions of the ancient Celts, combined to create a uniquely English monodic song form. The exceptionally beautiful St. Godric Songs (c.1150), are the earliest known songs in the English language. They are exquisitely performed here by the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, possibly the greatest countertenor of our century. This recording also features Seymour Barab on English fretted Viol, both under the musical direction of Saville Clark.
Includes extensive liner notes by Saville Clark and William Bittner.
Russell Oberlin, Countertenor
Charles Bressler, Tenor
Gordon Meyers, Baritone
Paul Wolfe, Organ
More rare English Polyphony is presented here, again featuring the extraordinary vocal talents of the legendary countertenor, Russell Oberlin and tenor, Charles Bressler, this time joined by Baritone Gordon Meyers, with organist Paul Wolfe. A unique collection the rich and sonorous liturgical music of the late middle ages, featuring fourteenth Century settings of the High, Weekday, and Feast-day Masses, as well as Motets from the Old Hall Manuscript of St. Edmund's College.
Includes complete liner notes by Dennis Stevens
Russell Oberlin, Countertenor
Charles Bressler, Tenor
Robert Price, Tenor
Gordon Meyers, Baritone
Martha Blackman, Viol
The creative energy of the Middle Ages is vividly reflected in the polyphonic music of the 12th and 13th centuries. The long-forgotten art of the Notre Dame epoch once again comes alive in this recording of conductus and motet, which forms a perfect companion piece to the previous Lyrichord Early Music Series recording of the monumental organa of Leonin and Perotin (Notre Dame Organa, LEMS 8002). This rare performance features an exceptional vocal ensemble, including the legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, Charles Bressler and Robert Price, tenors, baritone Gordon Myers, with Martha Blackman viol, under the direction of Saville Clarke.
Includes extensive liner notes by William G. Waite.
Russell Oberlin, countertenor
Joseph Iadone, lute
The English composer John Dowland (1562-1626), left behind some of the
most beautiful and distinguished love songs in the history of music. This
magnificent collection of lute songs is performed here by legendary
countertenor Russell Oberlin, accompanied in the true Elizabethan
performance style by Lutenist Joseph Iadone. An unrivaled performance of
Dowland by one of the greatest voices of this century. No classical CD
collection will be complete without this disc! (That's true!!, AK)
In Nomine Players with Russell Oberlin
A richly authentic performance on original instruments by the In Nomine
Players, under the direction of Denis Stevens. Features the extraordinary
voice of legendary countertenor Russell Oberlin, in another in the series
of his classic Lyrichord Early Music Series CD's! Recorded in London.
"... the century's finest countertenor, possessed of a true tenor voice,
unlike a legion of male altos whose normal range is baritone." J.F. Weber, Fanfare September 1994