Ring Around Quartet & Consort - Frottole (2015) [Hi-Res]

Set to vernacular texts dealing mainly with the theme of love, frottole were short, improvisatory polyphonic songs with instrumental accompaniment that flourished in the Renaissance courts of Italy for some forty years between c. 1480 and 1520. Despite its apparent simplicity, this completely new genre of song inspired some of Europe’s greatest vocal and instrumental musicians. The recent invention of movable type added further to its popularity. This recording explores a representative selection, including work published by the historically pivotal figure of Ottaviano Petrucci.

„As the world headed towards the 16th century, a new era of music, that we now describe as coming from the Renaissance courts of Italy, became fashionable. It was so totally different to the religious vocal music that had held sway a century before, to the point that today it still sounds lightweight and usually joyful of character, Frotolle becoming its generic name. We had also moved to a time when a group of instruments would be used, compared to the unaccompanied sacred works or songs from strolling players. Yet the basis of much that was written, even by the ‘serious’ composers of the time, was based on folk music that had existed before, and often passed down from anonymous sources. The present disc of Frottole covers the music that was to emerge at this time and gathered together by the Venetian publisher, Ottaviano Petrucci, in a number of books, the first one containing 64 works that would be suitable for various voices and accompanying instruments. From his publications the Italian-based Ring Around Quartet and Consort have selected eighteen pieces of very differing character, including Tromboncino’s Su, su, leva, alza le ciglia, a more recently revived ‘hit’ song. But whether comic or sad, the music is highly pleasurable, and performed with verve and impeccable intonation whether as instrumentalist or as singers, the haunting quality of Vera Marenco’s soprano voice and clarity of Giuliano Lucini’s lute playing being particularly notable. Outstanding sound and strongly recommended.“ (David Denton, David’s Review Corner)

Vera Marenco, Soprano
Manuela Litro, Alto
Umberto Bartolini, Tenor
Alberto Longhi, Baritone
Giuliano Lucini, Lute
Aimone Gronchi, Viola d’arco
Marcello Serafini, Tenor Viol, Renaissance Guitar
Maria Notarianni, Bass Viol
Atsufumi Ujiie, Recorder, Pipe & Tabor, Percussion