Album

Why Not Here is not the title of this disc, although from a casual glance it might look like it is so. The device "Why not here" is actually the name of the duo formed by gambists Hille Perl and Friederike Heumann; they are joined on many pieces by lutenists Lee Santana and Michael Freimuth, and the latter pair even have several pieces to themselves. The "lyra viol" is not a special instrument like a viola da braccio, but refers to a specific way of playing the viol, as an instrument capable of harmony and melody rather than melody only, or used in a purely basso context. This set of pieces reflects the usual fare that Perl and Heumann employ in their concert appearances in Europe. While weighted toward Thomas Ford, a key English exponent of lyra viol playing during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods, the stated purpose of Music for Two Lyra Viols is to "celebrate and overcome melancholy … to change the chemistry in your brain by putting music into it rather than other drugs." Perl contributes an engaging and highly personal album note, which wanders into topics far from music, but is a refreshing change from the usual blah blah blah about the composer. The disc provides a responsible canvassing of the requisite literature, covering in addition to Ford the work of several of his English contemporaries and that of the younger Alfonso Ferrabosco. However, the repertoire is not the main event here so much as building an asylum of Renaissance melancholy into which post-modern, twenty first century types can escape. In this sense, Why not here's Music for two Lyra Viols is extremely successful in a way it might not have been had it been exclusively devoted to Ford or otherwise had taken its musicological mission with a more rigorous tack; maintaining a consistent sense of mood is the key organizing principal. The playing throughout, from all four musicians, is tight, scrupulously careful, artistic, and personable, and the recording will make it feel as if Why Not Here is playing right in your living room. Music for Two Lyra Viols was recorded in 2001 and originally released on the Carpe Diem label; this version was issued in 2008 by the German label Accent.

© Uncle Dave Lewis , All Music Guide

CD 1
Thomas Ford Composer A Paven, M. Maynes Choice Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
1	A Paven, M. Maynes Choice	6:00			$0.99
Thomas Ford Composer The Galiard, for 2 viols Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
2	#1.	2:53			$0.99
Thomas Ford Composer Forget Me Not, for 2 viols Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
3	Forget Me Not, for 2 viols	1:06			$0.99
Thomas Ford Composer The Baggepipes, Sir Charles Howards Delight Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
4	The Baggepipes, Sir Charles Howards Delight	1:24			$0.99
Thomas Ford Composer Why not here, M. Crosse his choice Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
5	Why not here, M. Crosse his choice	1:47			$0.99
Thomas Ford Composer Cate of Bardy, The Queenes Jig Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Lee Santana Cittern, Why Not Here Ensemble
6	Cate of Bardy, The Queenes Jig	1:49			$0.99
John Jenkins Composer Fantasia Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
7	Fantasia	3:57			$0.99
John Danyel Composer Passymeasures Galliard, for 2 lutes Work Michael Freimuth Lute, Lee Santana Lute, Why Not Here Ensemble
8	Passymeasures Galliard, for 2 lutes	4:06			$0.99
John Danyel Composer A Fancy, for 2 lutes Work Lee Santana Lute, Michael Freimuth Lute, Why Not Here Ensemble
9	A Fancy, for 2 lutes	1:12			$0.99
Alfonso (ii) Ferrabosco Composer Almaine Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
10	Almaine	4:02			$0.99
Alfonso (ii) Ferrabosco Composer Galliard Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
11	Galliard	3:25			$0.99
Alfonso (ii) Ferrabosco Composer Coranto Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
12	Coranto	1:26			$0.99
Antony Holborne Composer Goe from my window Work Michael Freimuth Lute, Lee Santana Cittern, Why Not Here Ensemble
13	Goe from my window	3:19			$0.99
Richard Alison Composer Goe from My Window for consort Work Friederike Heumann Viol (Treble), Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Lee Santana Cittern, Why Not Here Ensemble
14	Goe from My Window for consort	3:58			$0.99
Thomas Ford Composer A Paven, Sir Richard Westons Delight Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
15	A Paven, Sir Richard Westons Delight	6:34			$0.99
Thomas Ford Composer The Galiard, for 2 viols Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
16	#2.	1:53			$0.99
Thomas Ford Composer An Almaine, M. Westovers Farewell Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
17	An Almaine, M. Westovers Farewell	1:28			$0.99
Thomas Ford Composer Whipit and Tripit, M. Southcotes Jig Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Why Not Here Ensemble
18	Whipit and Tripit, M. Southcotes Jig	1:33			$0.99
Alfonso (ii) Ferrabosco Composer Spanish Pavan for 2 lutes Work Michael Freimuth Lute, Lee Santana Lute, Why Not Here Ensemble
19	Spanish Pavan for 2 lutes	3:47			$0.99
William Lawes Composer Paven for viola da gamba & lyra viol Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Michael Freimuth Lute, Lee Santana Lute, Why Not Here Ensemble
20	Paven for viola da gamba & lyra viol	8:00			$1.49
William Lawes Composer Aire for viola da gamba & lyra viol Work Friederike Heumann Viola da Gamba, Hille Perl Viola da Gamba, Lee Santana Lute, Michael Freimuth Lute, Why Not Here Ensemble
21	Aire for viola da gamba & lyra viol	2:44			$0.99