According to John Bryan, who plays both viol and organ on this recording, Englishman John Ward (c. 1589-1638) was not a professional musician but rather worked for a nobleman–Sir Henry Fanshawe–who loved music. Sir Henry also loved Italian musical and literary culture, and thus Ward set to work on a collection of madrigals (English, but in Italian style), which he published in 1613 and dedicated to Fanshawe. Included in the set’s title was the instruction that these pieces, in 3-6 parts, were “apt both for Viols and Voyces.” On this recording, the Rose Consort of Viols chooses the former context for performing several of these originally texted songs, including “Upon a bank with roses”, “O say, dear life”, “Fly not so fast”, and “Sweet Philomel”. Indeed, listeners who think they’ve heard some of these works before may have encountered them in their vocal versions.
Ward also composed madrigals with Italian texts, some of which are also included here in instrumental form, as well as a large number of works for viols only–Fantasias, Airs, and In Nomines. The quality of the music is invariably first rate, able to keep easy company with better-known examples by Byrd, Gibbons, Lawes, Dowland, Ferrabosco, Tomkins, or Weelkes. The variety among these 25 selections is impressive. In the madrigals, it’s achieved through Ward’s attention to the texts, using the music to illustrate important words and scenarios. But even if you don’t know the original songs, you can appreciate any of these pieces for their lively rhythmic flow, graceful lines, skillfully varied textures and color effects–and particularly notable in the slower numbers, the sensuous melodies and rich, resonant harmonies.
The Rose Consort of Viols was created to play music like this, and the collective and individual virtuosity of the six performers on this disc are on full display throughout the generous (72-minute) program. Particularly satisfying are the selections with organ, whose unique colors add another, very sonorous dimension to the viols’ already warm, ear-pleasing consonance. The sound, from the very complementary acoustics of Forde Abbey, is appropriately full-bodied yet intimate. If you enjoy music for viols, don’t hesitate to add this excellent disc to your collection.
