A Store Housse of Treasure Musicke & Mirth

• John Baldwin (1560 - 1615): Quattuor vocum:
• 1 Baldwin: Quattuor vocum 01:54
• William Byrd (1543 - 1623): Aspice Domine:
• 2 Byrd: Aspice Domine 03:26
• Thomas Preston (1542 - 1563): O lux beata Trinitas:
• 3 Preston: O lux beata Trinitas 02:03
• Anonymous: Kyrie, Ms. f.117 (I):
• 4 Anonymous: Kyrie, Ms. f.117 (I) 01:43
• William Byrd: And Ye Childe:
• 5 Byrd: And Ye Childe 01:04
• Ne irascaris:
• 6 Byrd: Ne irascaris 05:19
• John Bedyngham (1422 - 1460): Vide Domine:
• 7 Bedyngham: Vide Domine 03:03
• Anonymous: Perce Domine:
• 8 Anonymous: Perce Domine 01:20
• Nathaniel Giles (1558 - 1633): In te Domine speravi:
• 9 Giles: In te Domine speravi 02:48
• Christopher Tye (1505 - 1572): Sit Fast:
• 10 Tye: Sit Fast 06:15
• Anonymous: Holde Faste:
• 11 Anonymous: Holde Faste 01:37
• Elway Bevin (1554 - 1638): Lord Whoe Shall Dwell:
• 12 Bevin: Lord Whoe Shall Dwell 04:22
• Anonymous: A Piece Without Title:
• 13 Anonymous: A Piece Without Title 02:49
• Anonymous: Salva nos:
• 14 Anonymous: Salva nos 01:33
• William Byrd: Memento Domine (Solmised):
• 15 Byrd: Memento Domine (Solmised) 03:04
• Alfonso Ferrabosco I (1543 - 1588): Ut re mi fa sol la:
• 16 I: Ut re mi fa sol la 01:29
• John Taverner (1490 - 1545): In Nomine, solmised (I):
• 17 Taverner: In Nomine, solmised (I) 01:22
• Robert Goldar ( 1510 - 1563): In Nomine:
• 18 Goldar: In Nomine 01:19
• Anonymous: In Nomine, solmised (II):
• 19 Anonymous: In Nomine, solmised (II) 01:20
• Elway Bevin: Browning:
• 20 Bevin: Browning 02:54
• I Had Both Monye & Aa Frende:
• 21 Bevin: I Had Both Monye & Aa Frende 01:46
• By Mirthe Much Sicknes:
• 22 Bevin: By Mirthe Much Sicknes 01:47
• John Baldwin: In the Merie Monthe of Maye:
• 23 Baldwin: In the Merie Monthe of Maye 01:49
• Luca Marenzio (1553 - 1599): Piango che amor:
• 24 Marenzio: Piango che amor 02:05
• Ecco che un’altra volta:
• 25 Marenzio: Ecco che un’altra volta 04:01
• Anonymous: Kyrie, Ms. f.117 (II):
• 26 Anonymous: Kyrie, Ms. f.117 (II) 03:01
• William Byrd: O quam gloriosum:
• 27 Byrd: O quam gloriosum 04:32
• Total Runtime 01:09:45

Info for A Store Housse of Treasure

The singer, composer and music copyist John Baldwin (c.1560—1615) trained as a choirboy in the royal court chapel in England between 1580 and 1590 and was taught music theory and ensemble playing in conjunction with viol playing. Armed with this practical education, he performed a broad repertoire, encompassing church music, theatrical performances and evening entertainment for the feasts of wealthy citizens. He compiled the repertoire performed in this musical environment in his so-called Commonplace Book, with the aim of preserving the pieces contained therein for future generations. In the introductory poem to his manuscript he describes his book as ‘a store housse of treasure’. The pieces transmitted are diverse, ranging from rhythmically sophisticated instrumental pieces over humorous songs to profound motets. This recording plumbs the depth of this musical treasure trove, bringing to life a fascinating era of English music history.

Musicke & Mirth

Musicke & Mirth
was founded by Irene Klein and Jane Achtman during the summer of 1997. The aim was to explore the unique and entertaining music for two viols. While not excluding the traditional and better-known French repertoire, the focus is on less known works, such as music for two lyra viols and the late German Galant style. Further musicians are added to the core group of two players when the repertoire requires it.

The musicians perform on period instruments and from original scores, paying great attention to historical performance practice. The winning combination of authenticity paired with a unique performing flair has made the ensemble successful both in concert halls and at competitions. Musicke & Mirth won the third prize in the American Dorian/EMA Recording Competition in 1997, the second prize in the Premio Bonporti in Rovereto, Italy in 1998 and the second prize at the Van Wassenaer Concours in The Hague in 2000.

Since its formation the ensemble has developed various programs in different constellations and has traveled throughout Europe for concerts. In 2005 it played at the Festival Concentus Moraviae in the Czech Republic and in 2007 it was invited to perform for the WDR3 Funkhauskonzerte in Cologne. The ensemble often participates as a duo in large productions, such as an opera version of J. S. Bach’s “Actus Tragicus” with the conductor Michael Hofstetter, which was performed in Basel (2000 and 2001) and in Stuttgart (2006–2008).

In 2006, the viol consort Musicke & Mirth accompanied the Collegium Vocale Gent for a European tour of Dieterich Buxtehude ́s “Membra Jesu Nostri”. In 2009 the Swiss Radio DRS2 produced a documentation of the ensembles musical career to date. In 2014/2015 the ensemble is touring Germany and Switzerland with a consort program of dances and madrigals by the forgotten composer Balthasar Fritsch, joined by the soprano Ulrike Hofbauer.

Musicke & Mirth recorded its first CD ("Musicke & Mirth - Music for two Lyra Viols” published 2001 with Raumklang) during the summer of 1999. Its second CD ("Die Spinne im Netz” - The Spider in the Web, published 2004 with Raumklang) is a compilation of music found in Nuremberg music prints. A third CD, “Feuer und Bravour” with Galant German music from the Berlin court, was published with the label Ramée in 2008 and received a Diapason Découverte immediately. The newest CD, “Division-Musick”, was published in 2012 and presents the virtuosic tradition of diminution in England in the 17th century.

Booklet for A Store Housse of Treasure