Album

New Classical Adventure's Deth-Life takes its title from a paired viol piece by Tobias Hume and provides the basic theme for the album; the cycle of life and death as perceived by musicians of the early through mid-Baroque, with an emphasis—naturally—on death, as there are a lot more pieces of music composed on that subject as opposed to life. The ensemble is Hamburger Ratsmusik, which typically consists of only two people, gambist Simone Eckert and Ulrich Wedemeier on theorbo and archlute, and for a large part of the disc only Eckert is heard solo; Michael Fuerst chips in on organ here and there. It's all very low key and the mood well suits the painting on the front cover; the music does remind one of some old philosopher, equipped with skull and quill, scribbling away in a huge manuscript volume the wisdom of the ages. There is not a lot of variety in terms of instrumental color, but you don't mind. François Couperin's hit Le Baricades Mistérieuses is played as a solo piece by Wedemeier on theorbo, and it's a lovely match of music and instrument. New Classical Adventure's Deth-Life is definitely a late-night option, something that will sound good with a good book and a glass of warm milk; human skull not required.

© Uncle Dave Lewis , All Music Guide

CD 1
Marin Marais Composer Suite for viola da gamba and continuo in B- (Pièces de viole, Book II, Nos. 83-95) Work Hamburger Ratsmusik Ensemble
1	9.Tombeau pour M. Lully	6:49			$0.99
Tobias Hume Composer Deth, for ensemble Work Simone Eckert Viola da Gamba
2	Deth, for ensemble	5:46			$0.99
Tobias Hume Composer Life (No 13 in Musical Humors) Work Simone Eckert Viola da Gamba
3	Life (No 13 in Musical Humors)	1:39			$0.99
Robert de Visée Composer Prélude for theorbo in G- Work Ulrich Wedemeier Theorbo
4	Prélude for theorbo in G-	0:55			$0.99
Robert de Visée Composer La Plainte, Tombeau des Mesdemoiselles de Visée, for theorbo Work Ulrich Wedemeier Theorbo
5	La Plainte, Tombeau des Mesdemoiselles de Visée, for theorbo	5:16			$0.99
Robert de Visée Composer Courante for theorbo Work Ulrich Wedemeier Theorbo
6	Courante for theorbo	2:07			$0.99
Charles Dollé Composer Suite for viol & continuo No.2 in C-, Op.2 Work 17:48 Hamburger Ratsmusik Ensemble
7	Prélude	2:50			$0.99
8	Allemande La fière	3:01			$0.99
9	Tombeau pour Marais le Père	5:47			$0.99
10	Sarabande	2:42			$0.99
11	Les Amusements	3:28			$0.99
François Couperin Composer Ordre 6 in Bb Work Ulrich Wedemeier Archlute
12	Ordre 6 in Bb	3:26			$0.99
François Couperin Composer Viola da Gamba Suite No.2 in A Work 13:48 Hamburger Ratsmusik Ensemble
13	1.Prélude	2:27			$0.99
14	2.Fuguette	2:00			$0.99
15	3.Pompe Funèbre	5:54			$0.99
16	4.La Chemise Blanche	3:27			$0.99