Album

Lutenist and composer Daniel Bacheler was a contemporary of John Dowland's. The two admired each other; Bacheler wrote A Galliard upon a Galliard by John Dowland, and Dowland did the same with one of Bacheler's works. Only the Bacheler works of each pair are included on this disc of solo lute pieces; it might have illustrated the stylistic contrasts discussed by lutenist Paul O'Dette in his notes if the listener had been able to compare each artist's recomposition of his friend and rival's work. That, however, is just about the end of the list of complaints relating to this wonderful release. Although a few works here were staples of Julian Bream's repertory, Bacheler has been somewhat neglected in comparison with other English composers from around 1600; this is said to be the first release devoted entirely to his works. O'Dette argues that this is because of the difficulty his works pose for performers: Bacheler was a true virtuoso. His Pavans begin with the stately mood one associates with this dance, but quickly explode, variation-like, into flashing runs and textural complexities. O'Dette rightly points out that it's hard to find a tempo that will accommodate both the simple and the complicated passages; the performer has to subtly alter the tempo over the course of a piece. He solves this problem admirably, and his execution of Bacheler's vigorous passagework is perfectly clean. Another characteristic technical problem Bacheler poses relates to his exploitation of the lower end of the lute's range, and here O'Dette's clear articulation and vivid coloring of the lower strings has never been put to better use. Sample one of the variation pieces such as Monsieurs Almaine (track 5) or La jeune fillette (track 15) for an example of Bacheler at his most characteristic, but the high level of virtuosity and control come through almost everywhere on the disc. Several unusual genres, such as the "Fin de galliard," a sort of ground-bass coda, are represented. Special mention goes to engineer Brad Michael, working in a concert hall in Quebec City: he accomplished a close-up recording that gives a really uncanny sense of the performer's presence. This is an unsuspected delight for married folk as well as bachelors and bachelorettes.

© James Manheim, All Music Guide

CD 1
Daniel Bacheler Composer Daniells Jigge Work Paul O'Dette Lute
1	Daniells Jigge	0:55			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Pavan, No.2 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
2	Pavan, No.2	4:52			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Galliard, No.23 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
3	Galliard, No.23	1:49			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Galliard, No.21 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
4	Galliard, No.21	2:04			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Mounsieurs Almaine, No.40a Work Paul O'Dette Lute
5	Mounsieurs Almaine, No.40a	5:57			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Pavan, No.10 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
6	Pavan, No.10	4:53			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Galliard, No.27 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
7	Galliard, No.27	2:18			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer En me revenant Work Paul O'Dette Lute
8	En me revenant	2:37			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Pavin, No.18 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
9	Pavin, No.18	5:10			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Galliard, No.32 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
10	Galliard, No.32	1:37			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Fin de galliarde, No.42 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
11	Fin de galliarde, No.42	3:41			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Prelude, No.47 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
12	Prelude, No.47	1:40			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Fantasie, No.1 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
13	Fantasie, No.1	3:52			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer To Plead My Faith, galliard No.25 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
14	To Plead My Faith, galliard No.25	2:00			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer La jeune fillette Work Paul O'Dette Lute
15	La jeune fillette	7:13			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Pavan, No.13a Work Paul O'Dette Lute
16	Pavan, No.13a	4:32			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Galliard, No.13b Work Paul O'Dette Lute
17	Galliard, No.13b	1:39			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Pavan, No.6 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
18	Pavan, No.6	4:55			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Galliard (based on a Galliard by John Dowland) Work Paul O'Dette Lute
19	Galliard (based on a Galliard by John Dowland)	2:02			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Almaine, No.35 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
20	Almaine, No.35	1:39			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Courante, No.36 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
21	Courante, No.36	1:08			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Volta Work Paul O'Dette Lute
22	Volta	1:27			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Courante, No.37 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
23	Courante, No.37	1:09			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Prelude, No.48 Work Paul O'Dette Lute
24	Prelude, No.48	1:30			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Pavin Work Paul O'Dette Lute
25	Pavin	5:39			$0.99
Daniel Bacheler Composer Galliard Work Paul O'Dette Lute
26	Galliard	1:55			$0.99