In Nomine (1987)

For music in the key of doleful, try this Amon Ra disc called In Nomine by the English ensemble Fretwork. Featuring entirely sixteenth century English music for viols and lute, this disc concentrates nearly entirely on the dark, the dreary, and the dismal. Naturally, this predilection does not preclude musical excellence. Whether written by the very well known Thomas Tallis and John Taverner or the less well known Robert Johnson and John Baldwin, the works here are never less than skillfully and lovingly composed. But with ... Read More

For music in the key of doleful, try this Amon Ra disc called In Nomine by the English ensemble Fretwork. Featuring entirely sixteenth century English music for viols and lute, this disc concentrates nearly entirely on the dark, the dreary, and the dismal. Naturally, this predilection does not preclude musical excellence. Whether written by the very well known Thomas Tallis and John Taverner or the less well known Robert Johnson and John Baldwin, the works here are never less than skillfully and lovingly composed. But with their mostly meditative tempos, consistently dusky tone, and predominantly minor-keyed harmonies, the works here dwell almost exclusively on the melancholy side of the human experience. The performances, like the music, are also excellent. Fretwork -- five talented violists playing treble, tenor, bass, and great bass viols plus a lone lutenist -- is a tight but relaxed string ensemble with clear, expressive lines and a warm, nuanced tone. Though those who enjoy Mendelssohn's optimism... Read Less