Staff Picks Blog

I’m not a huge fan of recorder music. A little goes a long way. That being said, the new CD Recorders Greate and Smale was a treat for me. Performed by  Mezzaluna,  a recorder ensemble created in 2003, it consists of selections from the reconstructed repertoire of the 16th-century English Court recorder consort.

The excellent liner notes include a history of the recorder and performance practices. Apparently, the high days at the English Court for the recorder consort began with the crowning of Henry VIII in 1509, possibly because Henry himself played the recorder.

The sound quality of the instruments is pure and light, with great acoustics provided by a church in Basse-Bodeux, Belgium. The playing is outstanding and beautifully blended. If you have an interest in Renaissance music, wind ensembles, or the recorder in particular, this CD is an easy recommendation.  For those of my ilk, it might be a pleasant surprise.