Phantasm - Lawes: The Royal Consort - CD Hot List

The Phantasm ensemble continues its survey of English music for consort of viols with this outstanding recording of William Lawes' monumental Royal Consort set and his Three Consorts to the Organ. This is dance music of the highest caliber, and was recognized as such in Lawes' time though less so 100 years later. Today, the strange liberties he took with chord voicing and rhythm sound pleasantly odd, and his peculiar genius is perhaps easier to recognize. There's genius too, as always, in the playing of the remarkable Phantasm ensemble. The enhanced resolution of the Super Audio CD format is especially well suited to the sound of viol consorts, and this two-disc set is particularly noteworthy for its sound quality. Highly recommended, especially to early music collections.