Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1411172 Composed by Anonymous, Claude Gervaise, Claudin de Sermisy, Erasmus Widmann, Giorgio Mainerio, Henry VIII, John Dowland, Juan Del Encina, Michael Praetorius, Pierre Attaignant, Pierre Certon, Pierre Phalese, Thoinot Arbeau, and Tielman Susato. Arranged by Alastair Lodge. Chamber,Early Music,Renaissance. 93 pages. Wold Meridian #993504. Published by Wold Meridian (A0.1411172). A selection of 44 Dance Consort pieces from publications dating from 1500 to 1620 in three, four or five part scores and fully chorded with lyricsRenaissance Dance music provides some of the most simple yet satisfying pieces to play in ensemble on a wide range of instruments.  They are suitable for recorders, modern strings, woodwinds or brass, or where available, reproductions of 16th century instruments, such as crumhorns, viols or shawms to name but a few.The 44 pieces that first  appeared in the publication Chording to the Dance Masters, are  presented in full score and with separate parts for each of the lines.  What is more, a number of the pieces have been re-edited to include their lyrics, should you wish to perform them vocally.  They represent some of the best known secular pieces of the Renaissance repertoire.What makes this Wold Meridian edition of these pieces different  from others is that they have been created to make performing them as accessible as possible.  Chords have been provided so that the piece can be played with just the melody line and a simple accompaniment.  It also means that keyboard players or fretted strings can join in with ensembles, giving extra sparkle to performances.Each piece can be heard in a video on YouTube with illustrations and historical background information.  Even more helpful for players who are less experienced in reading harmony lines, there is a YouTube video link featuring each part, where it is heard initially on its own with the chords, on repeats with the melody line added and finally together with all the parts in the whole ensemble.  If you have not had the pleasure of playing in consort with other people, you could not do better than start with these Wold Meridian editions.
