Hamburger Ratsmusik, Simone Eckert - Deth-Life (2007)

Tracklist

01. Tombeau pour Mr de St. Colombe. IMM 14
02. The First Part of Ayres, French, Pollish and Others. ITH 2: XIII. Deth
03. The First Part of Ayres, French, Pollish and Others. ITH 2: XIV. Life
04. Manuscrit Vaudry de Saizenay. IRV 12: I. La Plainte, ou Tombeau de Mesdemoiselles de Visee
05. Manuscrit Vaudry de Saizenay. IRV 12: II. Allemande de Mr leur père
06. Manuscrit Vaudry de Saizenay. IRV 12: III. Courante
07. Pieces de Viole, avec la Basse Continüe Op. 2: I. Prelude
08. Pieces de Viole, avec la Basse Continüe Op. 2: II. Allemande La fière
09. Pieces de Viole, avec la Basse Continüe Op. 2: III. Tombeau pour Marais le Père
10. Pieces de Viole, avec la Basse Continüe Op. 2: IV. Sarabande
11. Pieces de Viole, avec la Basse Continüe Op. 2: V. Les Amusements
12. Les barricades mistérieuses IFC 28
13. Première et Deuxième Suite: I. Prelude
14. Première et Deuxième Suite: II. Fuguette
15. Première et Deuxième Suite: III. Pompe Funèbre
16. Première et Deuxième Suite: IV. La Chemise Blanche

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.

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