In Reply to: I'm partial to Paul O'Dette's Dowland... posted by EBerlin on July 19, 2009 at 18:48:36:
PAINTING: "Design for a Study for Prospero"
EBerlin,
I have Paul O'Dette's complete Dowland lute music on 5CD's and a couple of Rooley singles, plus several LP's. I've heard O'Dette live three times here in Los Angeles.
I'll write more after I have the Rooley set in a couple of days. I'd planned to compare some of the individual pieces that I know well- pieces I've played myself mainly.
In my view, I prefer O'Dette definitely for the solo works but Rooley more for the lute songs and ensemble works. Rooley does have a more dramatic style- stronger contrasts, building to climaxes that I think suits a combination with singer or other instruments while O'Dette works in subtleties and is a bit "quieter"- more contemplative- perfect for the solo works.
Dowland has a quality- surprising in common with Schubert- for me in that even the livelier, faster pieces still have a slight dark, melancholic flavour. Finding that delicate balance of dark and light- despair and hope, which I feel is true to the spirit of the music is key. If a connection between Dowland and Schubert seems unlikely, play almost any random group of Schubert Leider- piano and solo voice and then a few Dowland lute songs- lute and voice !
I'm looking forward to the Rooley set- quite a number of pieces I've never heard and Dowland is one of those composers who didn't write enough!
Cheers,
Bambi B
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Follow Ups
- I have both Rooley's and O'Dette's Dowland - Bambi B 07/20/0908:12:19 07/20/09 (1)
- RE: I have both Rooley's and O'Dette's Dowland - EBerlin 22:08:20 07/20/09 (0)