At the Sign of the Crumhorn Early Music

For some reason I recently decided to buy a variety of Early Music CDs from Amazon. I purchased four, including this one, enough to spend $25 for free shipping. Of the four (the others being 'Praetorius: Dances from Terpsichore', 'Music of the Troubadours', and 'Music of the Crusades'), this is my favorite.I particularly like the song whose title is translated on this page as 'Be sure to drink in moderation' - I don't know enough contemporary Dutch to know if learning to sing this as recorded on this CD would be comprehensible to native speakers of Dutch today, but I certainly hope so, because it would make a terrific ice breaker at parties in Holland.As for the music, it's hard to imagine that a gaggle of trained geese would sound as good as these Crumhorns. This album really rocks.

Fun Renaissance music. According to the liner notes, composer/publisher Susato's business in Antwerp was called "At the Sign of the Crumhorn." In the rare instance that shoppers don't know...the crumhorn is a capped double reed instruement with a sweet buzzy sound. Many Renaissance instruments and voices are used on this album, however, in case a steady diet of the crumhorn is a bit much.

I love this recording. It transport me To a time unknown to me so that I let my imagination fill in the scenes. The music is relaxing and energetic.i am very happy to listen to this CD any time of the day.

This is a good introduction for people who are curious about ancient music. Musically, this is interesting and well-performed. Sonically, it is nothing short of amazing ear candy. Naxos recordings are always "clean" but sometimes they sound dead and lack detail. Not this one! It is fantastic in league with the best in my collection alongside true audiophile labels.

I am originally from Belgium, and love it not only for the music but also because I lived near Antwerp and I got good memories...the music is great. It is fun to hear Flemish songs over here...

This is a nice selection of Medieval music, nice melodies ,songs and dances , The vocals are sung with feeling and are upbeat and somber at times and done well. very worthwhile to any Medieval music collection.

Very few groups tackle the capped reed and make it sound like it should. Would greatly recommend this CD

Yup. Clearing out my collection of CDs I don't listen to much and this one popped out. Then I gave it another listen and decided that I'd nearly made a very bad mistake. This album is quite remarkable. The vocals are fine, but the instrumentals is where this really shines. The variety of instruments covers the gamut from double reeds (loud and soft), recorders, cornetts, sackbutts, bowed and plucked strings and tasteful, clever percussion... more I'm sure, but you get the idea. There are some very unexpected little tricks as the selections segue from one to an other as well as clever, unexpected solos. It is clear that the group are not just playing music, but that they are playing with it and having a good time. The articulation on some of the pieces is remarkable and I find myself listening to new life breathed into the usual chestnuts from Susato and company. The obligatory Hoboeken tanz is there, but it sounds unlike other performances.Buy, listen, enjoy. You will not be disappointed.

Susato was one of the pioneers of the musical printing press and a fervent defender of compositions in the Dutch language. This CD brings a fine selection of songs and instrumental pieces from largely anonymous sources. There are also several arrangements by Susato himself as well as two contributions from Dutch masters of the period Benedictus Appenzeller (whose song "een venusdierken heb ick uutvercoren" is the highlight of the CD for me) and Clemens non papa. The latter is an underrated composer whose dissolute lifestyle seems to have undermined his reputation.The performance is excellent the singing and playing portraying beautifully the "earthy" subjects of the pieces - love and the defense of moderate drinking !In the same vein I would recommend "Tugend und Untugend: German Music from the Time of Luther" although my personal opinion is that the music on "At the sign of the Crumhorn" is superior.

I was delighted to find this cd - I have another cd of Tielman Susato's music and I totally love it! The music is full of joy, drama, and emotion. It seems quite unique in the mix of medieval music, and is totally memorable.So I approached this cd of music from Susato's music books with great anticipation, and was not disappointed. The booklet explains that Susato (c. 1500-c. 1564) began publishing music in 1541-42, mostly music by Flemish composers. The advent of printing was a great boon to such endeavours, although Susato was not just a publisher, he was a composer, arranger and musician. It's thanks to printing efforts like this that we have such a large choice of medieval music still available to us today, for which I am thankful. Susato championed works in the Dutch language.This cd covers works by anonymous composers (and arranged by Susato), Lupus Hellinck (c. 1496-1541), Josquin Baston (fl. 1542-53), Carolus Souliaert, Benedictus Appenzeller (fl. 1542-51), Jacobus Clemens non Papa (c. 1510-c. 1556) and Jean Ghiselin, alias Verbonnet (c. 1455-1511). Some works are songs (and the booklet offers English translations), some music only. All are gems, redolent of life, love, drama in the sixteenth century. Totally recommended.

Here is great music of the early 16th Century from Holland.Tielman Susato was a music publisher who used the new medium of printing to bring the music of Holland to mass audience of the time.In the period that Spain tried to dominate and make war on the area.A destructive era that was illustrated by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, with the soldiers in his {Massacre of the Innocents} which typify those days of turmoil.Though the events of the reformation seem destructive this music that was created in the period is serene but also full of refreshing tunes.All our yesterdays are found in this type of music of which there are now many CDs available from the varied locations across Europe of those days.Tielman Susato's publications are played here by Convivium Musicum Gothenburgense an ensemble that includes recorder, flute, dulcian, crumhorn, shawm, Rauschpfiefe & trombone aided by a voice ensemble that re-creates this music from a bygone age.These songs & dances from almost 500 years ago today seem serene and are leagues away from modern music that revels with beat box repetition somewhat like a crazy mantra of an uncertain future for mankind.Put on the CD & be transported back in time via sound as you relax to this period of conflict with the songs relevant to the age when Europe changed & divided dramatically with the events around Martin Luther.With these revolutionary changes this Music CD shows that the peasant music was full of religion, fun & dance with jugs full of flowing ale to keep the pulse of the people content.

Schnelle Lieferung - so wie vereinbart, bin zufrieden!

Music from BREUGHEL's time.In my language, I can understand more words than I thought.Beautifully sung, what more do you want.This is a bargain.I recommend it.