Album

This charming collection Renaissance songs and dance tunes followed on the heels of a similar collection of Scottish music from the same period (On the Banks of Helicon), and was itself followed some years later by The Mad Buckgoat, which focused on early music in Ireland. Of the three albums, the Scottish one is the best, but Watkins Ale is a close second. The program draws on material both familiar ("There Were Three Ravens," "Green Sleeves") and obscure, and juxtaposes melancholy consort music by John Dowland and Thomas Morley with dances and bawdy tunes. The playing of the Baltimore Consort is exquisite, as always, with special recognition due to flutist Chris Norman and gamba player Mary Anne Ballard. While they spend most of their time playing gently and elegantly, this is a group that also knows how to rock out when the music calls for it. The music calls for it a bit less frequently on Watkins Ale than it did on Banks of Helicon, but the program includes a nicely varied array of moods and textures. Highly recommended.

© Rick Anderson, Rovi

CD 1
Jean D'Estrée Composer Les Bouffons (The Buffens), branle for 5 parts (Tiers livre de danceries) Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
1	Les Bouffons (The Buffens), branle for 5 parts (Tiers livre de danceries)	1:35			$0.99
Anonymous Composer Nuttmigs and Ginger, for consort Work Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Ann Marie Morgan Viol (Bass), Custer LaRue Soprano, Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Ronn McFarlane Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Howard Bass Lute, Webb Wiggins Virginal
2	Nuttmigs and Ginger, for consort	3:05			$0.99
John Johnson Composer Green Garters Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
3	Green Garters	2:40			$0.99
Thomas Ravenscroft Composer There Were Three Ravens, for voice(s) and ensemble Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
4	There Were Three Ravens, for voice(s) and ensemble	7:38			$1.49
Anonymous Composer Howell's Delight, for consort Work Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Ann Marie Morgan Viol (Bass), Custer LaRue Soprano, Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Ronn McFarlane Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Howard Bass Lute, Webb Wiggins Virginal
5	Howell's Delight, for consort	1:12			$0.99
Richard Alison Composer Goe from My Window, for consort Work Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Ann Marie Morgan Viol (Bass), Custer LaRue Soprano, Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Ronn McFarlane Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Howard Bass Lute, Webb Wiggins Virginal
6	Goe from My Window, for consort	3:55			$0.99
John Johnson Composer Greensleeves for consort Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
7	Greensleeves for consort	5:04			$0.99
Thomas Morley Composer La sampogna, fantasia for instrumental consort Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
8	La sampogna, fantasia for instrumental consort	1:58			$0.99
Anonymous Composer Unto the Prophet Jonas I Read, for consort Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
9	Unto the Prophet Jonas I Read, for consort	5:57			$0.99
William Byrd Composer The Carman's whistle, MB36 Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
10	The Carman's whistle, MB36	4:50			$0.99
John Dowland Composer 5.Can she excuse my wrongs (The Earl of Essex, His Galliard) Work Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Ann Marie Morgan Viol (Bass), Custer LaRue Soprano, Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Ronn McFarlane Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Howard Bass Lute, Webb Wiggins Virginal
11	5.Can she excuse my wrongs (The Earl of Essex, His Galliard)	1:17			$0.99
John Dowland Composer Lachrimae Pavan Work Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Ann Marie Morgan Viol (Bass), Custer LaRue Soprano, Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Ronn McFarlane Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Howard Bass Lute, Webb Wiggins Virginal
12	Lachrimae Pavan	4:48			$0.99
Richard Alison Composer Quadro Pavin, for consort Work Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Ann Marie Morgan Viol (Bass), Custer LaRue Soprano, Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Ronn McFarlane Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Howard Bass Lute, Webb Wiggins Virginal
13	Quadro Pavin, for consort	2:18			$0.99
Anonymous Composer Singers Jig, for consort Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
14	Singers Jig, for consort	0:27			$0.99
English Traditional Composer Grimstock Work Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Ann Marie Morgan Viol (Bass), Custer LaRue Soprano, Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Ronn McFarlane Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Howard Bass Lute, Webb Wiggins Virginal
15	Grimstock	2:27			$0.99
Richard Alison Composer De la Tromba Pavan for consort Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
16	De la Tromba Pavan for consort	3:20			$0.99
Richard Nicholson Composer The Jew's Dance, for lute and recorder (from Thomas Morley's 'The First Booke of Consort Lessons') Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
17	The Jew's Dance, for lute and recorder (from Thomas Morley's 'The First Booke of Consort Lessons')	1:34			$0.99
Anonymous Composer Pavane Quadro & Galliard, for consort Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
18	Pavane Quadro & Galliard, for consort	2:30			$0.99
Thomas Morley Composer The First Booke of Consort Lessons (1599) Work Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Ann Marie Morgan Viol (Bass), Custer LaRue Soprano, Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Ronn McFarlane Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Howard Bass Lute, Webb Wiggins Virginal
19	Joyne Hands	1:31			$0.99
Anonymous, English Composer Watkin's Ale, song Work Ronn McFarlane Lute, Howard Bass Lute, Larry Lipkis Violin (Tenor), Mark Cudek Viol (Bass), Baltimore Consort Ensemble, Webb Wiggins Virginal, Mary Anne Ballard Viol (Treble), Custer LaRue Soprano
20	Watkin's Ale, song	6:37			$0.99