The Lute Society: Recommended Listening

Favourite Lute Recordings (from 1998)

My top five all-time favourite lute recordings: results of a Lute Society members' poll in Spring 1998

Awarding points to members' preferences (five for a top favourite, four for a second favourite, and so on) the results were as follows. The preponderance of low scoring (i.e. nominated only once or twice) recordings reflects the diversity of members' tastes. This was first printed in Lute News 46, July 1998, and is reproduced here for the interest of lute enthusiasts.

Points CD title Performer Publisher
23 La Compagna/Fantasia de mon triste Chris Wilson Metronome METCD 1025
14 Music from the Royal Courts of Europe Julian Bream  
  Complete Dowland Paul O’Dette  
  Rosa Chris Wilson  
12 Bach Suites Nigel North  
9 Vieux Gautier Hopkinson Smith  
  Lute Music from Scotland and France Jakob Lindberg BIS
  SL Weiss, Pieces de Luth Hopkinson Smith ASTREE E8718 CD
  Complete Works of John Dowland Wilson/Rooley/Bailes/North/Lindberg  
8 Francesco da Milano, Fantasias, Ricercars and Duets Chris Wilson and Shirley Rumsey NAXOS 8.550774
  English Lute Duets Paul O’Dette/Jakob Lindberg  
7 Pieces de Luth, French Lute Music of the 17th C Nigel North UEA 81704 LP
  Three, four and twenty Lutes Lindberg et al. BIS CD 341
  The Golden Age of English Lute Music Julian Bream RCA 9026-61584-2
  The Woods so Wild Julian Bream  
6 Time Stands Still Rooley/Kirkby Hyperion
  Il Tedesco della Tiorba, Kapsberger Paul O’Dette HARMONIA MUNDI
5 Like as the Lute Delights The Lute Group Plant Life
  [Dowland songs] Alfred Deller/Robert Spencer  
  Dall’Aquila, Da Crema, Lute Music Chris Wilson NAXOS 8.550778
  SL Weiss, Manuscrit de Londres, vol 3 Michel Cardin  
  Greensleeves McFarlane/Baird DORIAN
  In Darkness Let me Dwell Wilson/Agnew MET CD 1011
  Sanz/Santa Cruz Lislevand  
  SL Weiss vol. 1 Robert Barto NAXOS
  Lute Recital Anthony Bailes EMI Reflexe
  Luys Milan, El Maestro Hopkinson Smith ASTREE E7740
4 Pieces de Lut, Denis et Ennemond Gaultier, Mouton Tony Bailes  
  Elizabethan Lute Songs Pears/Bream DECCA 444-524
  Francesco da Milano, Intavolatura de Leuto Paul O’Dette ASTREE
  Art of the Bawdy Song Baltimore Consort  
  Lord Herbert of Cherbury’s Lute Book Paul O’Dette HMU 907068 CD
  Vincenzo Capirola Lute Book Federico Marincola PIERRE VERANY PV7930
  Luz y Norte A L King  
  Kapsberger Libro Quarto...di Chitarone, 1640 Lislevand ASTREE E8515
  Taquina Merula Figueras et al  
  Duetti Italiani Hopkinson Smith/O’Dette EMI Reflexe 1C 065-45-642 LP
  Luys Milan, El Maestro Hopkinson Smith/M Figueras ASTREE E7770
  Canto del Cavallero J M Moreno GLOSSA
3 Between two hearts Ronn McFarlane DOR 90225
  [French Music, Le Roy etc] Paul O’Dette  
  La Magdalena Chris Wilson VERITAS
  Broken Consort Music Julian Bream Consort RCA 09026-61589-2
  John Dowland Lute Lessons Nigel North ARCANA
  Weiss Vigo Mangor  
  The Baroque Lute Michael Schaffer  
  Gaspar Sanz Hopkinson Smith  
  Lautenmusik der Habsburgischen Lande Anthony Bailes  
  Dolcissima et Amorosa Paul O’Dette  
  Michaelangelo Galilei Paul Beier NUOVA ERA
  Tabulature de leut Paul O’Dette ASTREE E 7776
2 Robert de Visee, theorbo music Nigel North  
  Baroque Music for Lute and Guitar Jakob Lindberg BIS
  Bach Suites Hopskinson Smith  
  Pieces de Theorbe, de Visee J M Moreno GLOSSA GCD 920104
  The Renaissance Lute Ronn McFarlane  
  The Cypress Curtain of the Night ????  
  Music for Vihuela Chris Wilson  
1 I Grandi Liutisti Milanese del Cinquecento Joachim Held  
  Scottish Lute Music Jakob Lindberg  
  Dances of Dowland Julian Bream RCA 09026-61584-2
  Lauten Galanterie Anthony Bailes EMI Reflexe 1C-065-45-645 LP
  [Newsidler] Junghangel  
  Piccinini Nigel North  
  Music of the Spanish Renaissance Shirley Rumsey  
  Music of the Italian Renaissance Shirley Rumsey  
  The Bohemian Lute ????  
  La Serenissima Jakob Lindberg  
  La Guitarra Espanola J M Moreno  
  Estampie Thomas Binkley