Fire-Water: The Spirit of Renaissance Spain

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Other recent King's Singers' recordings on this label have reaffirmed the ensemble's credentials as compelling advocates of contemporary music. Here, only the most hardhearted of early music purists could fail to find the infectious cocktail of popular and religious Spanish music--largely 16th century--going to their heads, even if the King's Singers add the occasional theatrical embellishment. The music (much of it by "Anon") is organized into five categories, among them "fire" and "water" (with the alternative implications of ardor and alcohol). Of the named composers, none takes the ear more readily than Mateo Flecha the Elder. His La Bomba, one of several lengthy ensaladas (miniature music dramas), steals the show, with its comic tale of a bunch of sailors' impassioned but shallow prayer for deliverance from shipwreck. Elsewhere the moods range from pious to bitter-sweet melancholy--and just try to keep your feet still in villancicos such as Rodrigo Martinez. Those familiar, warm Harp Consort textures contribute markedly to the overall richness of sound. --Andrew Green

Fire-Water: The Spirit of Renaissance Spain, Music, The Kings Singers, The Harp Consort, Andrew Lawrence-King, Spanish Anonymous, Gabriel de Texerana, Francisco de Penalosa, Cristobal de Morales, Mateo Flecha, Francisco Guerrero, Antonio de Cabezon, Juan Gutierrez de Padilla, Santiago de Murcia, Chamber, Chamber Music, Choral, Choral Music, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Classical Vocals, Keyboard, Mass, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous Music, Music for Keyboard
Fire-Water: The Spirit of Renaissance Spain
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Outstanding
  • The King's Singers work their magic again
  • PERFECT INTERPRETATION
  • Fabulous!
  • Great fun!
 Fire-Water: The Spirit of Renaissance Spain
The Kings Singers , The Harp Consort , Andrew Lawrence-King , Spanish Anonymous , Gabriel de Texerana , Francisco de Penalosa , Cristobal de Morales , Mateo Flecha , Francisco Guerrero , Antonio de Cabezon , Juan Gutierrez de Padilla , and Santiago de Murcia
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Morales, Cristóbal de | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
MassesMasses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Classical MusicClassical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Classical Instrumental MusicClassical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Opera & VocalOpera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. The King"s Singers: English Renaissance
  2. All At Once Well Met: English Madrigals; The King's Singers
  3. The King's Singers Original Debut Recording
  4. Annie Laurie ~ Folksongs of the British Isles / Barrueco · The King's Singers
  5. Padilla: Music of the Mexican Baroque

ASIN: B00004KH71
Release Date: 2000-03-07

Tracks:

  1. Vuestros son mis ojos
  2. Enemiga le soy, madre
  3. Aquel pastorcico, madre
  4. Pos las sierras de Madrid
  5. Benedictus
  6. Otro tal misacantano
  7. La bomba
  8. Dindirin, dindirin
  9. Rodrigo Martinez
  10. Antes que comais a Dios
  11. El fuego
  12. Diferencias sobre 'Las vacas'
  13. Aleph, quomodo sedet sola civitas
  14. La viuda
  15. !Oh, que bien que baila Gil!
  16. Zarambeques
  17. Hoy, Gil, en concejo abierto

Amazon.com

Other recent King's Singers' recordings on this label have reaffirmed the ensemble's credentials as compelling advocates of contemporary music. Here, only the most hardhearted of early music purists could fail to find the infectious cocktail of popular and religious Spanish music--largely 16th century--going to their heads, even if the King's Singers add the occasional theatrical embellishment. The music (much of it by "Anon") is organized into five categories, among them "fire" and "water" (with the alternative implications of ardor and alcohol). Of the named composers, none takes the ear more readily than Mateo Flecha the Elder. His La Bomba, one of several lengthy ensaladas (miniature music dramas), steals the show, with its comic tale of a bunch of sailors' impassioned but shallow prayer for deliverance from shipwreck. Elsewhere the moods range from pious to bitter-sweet melancholy--and just try to keep your feet still in villancicos such as Rodrigo Martinez. Those familiar, warm Harp Consort textures contribute markedly to the overall richness of sound. --Andrew Green

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding.......2007-03-10

This is an extremely fun vocal Cd with really great arrangements. I thoroughly enjoy it and bought copies for all of my family too.

5 out of 5 stars The King's Singers work their magic again.......2006-01-28

Having been a fan of the King's Singers since my teenage years, which are growing ever more faint in my memory, I am sometimes surprised that they still surprise me. And yet, they always do. There is something quite magical about their voices - not just their individual voices, which are all wonderful, but what happens when you put them all together - the whole is definitely greater than the sum of the parts. They have hit upon a great formula, which will hopefully be around for many more wonderful recordings.

The other thing I love about the KS is how well they do different styles of music. Their technique on this is superb - the pronounciation, the intonation, all of it is right on the money. Yet they also manage to "take off the viking hat" (as my choral director likes to say when we're switching styles) and do the Beatles without butchering them. It's really quite something to behold.

This CD is a great introduction to the classical side of the KS, and a definite must-have for any current fan. The pieces are beautiful and exciting, they all complement each other wonderfully, and the whole thing is just a joy to hear!

5 out of 5 stars PERFECT INTERPRETATION.......2005-03-06

I am a fun of Spanish Renaissance Music and I found this recording extremely good! King's Singers shows their abilities once again!

5 out of 5 stars Fabulous!.......2001-01-05

I am a huge fan of Renaissance music, and I have to say, this recording is truly outstanding! The blend, dynamics, style and tone really need to be heard to be appreciated. The addition of the Harp Consort to this already superlative group also gets a big "thumbs up" from me. And Stephen Connolly! Oh, be still my foolish heart!! What a voice! The most resonant I can remember hearing! The selections by Mateo Flecha will make you laugh out loud, but my personal favorite - at least, for the moment - is "Aleph, quomodo sedet sola civitas" by Padilla. The extremely musical performance and the chill-producing display of dynamics makes this piece sound like it is performed by a choir of many more than six! I highly recommend this CD to all who appreciate quality music.

5 out of 5 stars Great fun!.......2000-04-07

This disc is the king'singers' second release with the current lineup (Hurley, Short, Phoenix, Lawson, Crouch, and Connolly) and is in my opinion the better of the two. Paul Phoenix, k's tenor, has told me that he much prefers the blend and sound on this disc to that of Street Songs. The singing is superb, and is ably supplemented with the playing of the Harp Consort. This disc is also great fun to listen to! You will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of textures heard here. The disc starts out with a solo track by 2nd baritone Gabriel Crouch, and also includes small-group tracks as well as full-roster pieces. Anyone who has caught their April 2000 tour has likely heard "La bomba" by Mateo Flecha, recorded on here. It is obvious that the k's had great fun making this recording! Enjoy!

Music Review:

  1. For Your Soul
  2. Franck: Symphonic Variations; D'Indy: Symphony on a French Mountain Air
  3. Garrick Ohlsson: The Complete Chopin Piano Works Vol. 10 - Etudes
  4. George Frideric Handel: Concerti Grossi Opus 3
  5. George Gershwin
  6. Gershwin - Porgy and Bess / White · Haymon · Blackwell · Baker · LPO · Sir Simon Rattle
  7. Gesualdo: Madrigaux (Madrigals)
  8. Great Recordings Of The Century - Strauss, R.: Salome / Karajan, Behrens, Van Dam, Baltsa, et al
  9. Gyorgy Ligeti Edition Vol 8 - Le Grand Macabre
  10. Handel - Ariodante / von Otter, Dawson, Cangemi, Podles, Croft, Sedov, Coadou, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Minkowski

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Trapped & Unwrapped [Original recording remastered] [Import]

International Tchaikovsky Competition, Vol. 3: The Great Vocalists

Liberty Tree: American Music 1776-1861

Doin' the Tennessee Wig Walk [Import]

Music Review: Additive, Vol. 4 [Import]

Locrian Arabesque [Import]

Le Meilleur de Françoise Hardy [Import]

Light and Shade [Import]

Long Shot Novena

Inglewood

I Can See Heaven From Here

Grandes Exitos

Latin Music: 12 Kilates Musicales

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 [Hybrid SACD]

Joy Ride