The Baltimore Consort
has made three albums of early music from the British Isles; this one, which demonstrates the connections between
traditional Celtic
music and the art music of
late Renaissance
and
early Baroque Scotland
, is perhaps the best. The program is, by turns, a joyful romp and a sweet lament, a combination of earthy
ballads
and elegant parlor dance tunes. Singer
Custer LaRue
is a delight as always, and here manages a pretty fair Scots burr, but guest artist
Edwin George
's performances on period bagpipes are especially noteworthy (particularly on the affecting rendition of
"Over the Hills and Far Away"
that opens the album). Flutist
Chris Norman
is also a central attraction -- his equal facility with
folk
classical
idioms has always been a special hallmark of his playing, and that skill is utilized perfectly on this program. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson