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Archguitar Renaissance Peter Blanchette Dorian Recordings One of the most original renaissance CDs to come along in years, Peter Blanchette's Archguitar Renaissance cannot be fully appreciated without understanding what makes this recording unique. Most people will ask, "What is an archguitar?" As the Renaissance progressed, plucked instruments expanded their bass range with the addition of new strings (or courses), to extend the lower register. Taking the process further, instrument makers added a second headstock to accommodate even more strings, developing archlutes and archcitterns. Meanwhile, the renaissance guitar remained a small four-course instrument used mainly for accompaniment. But Blanchette has taken the bold step of creating an authentic-sounding instrument that could have evolved but, in reality, never did. Instead of merely adding strings to a modern guitar as others have done before him, he has created a renaissance-style instrument. Drawing upon composers from England, France, Italy, and Poland, Archguitar Renaissance combines a variety of musical approaches from widely differing cultures. Each of the 25 tracks is played with remarkable skill by this former rock-and-roller who gave up the testosterone-charged electric guitar for an instrument that more fully explores the complexity of the human spirit. Particularly noteworthy are Blanchette's interpretation of Pierre Attaignant's Basse Danse "La Magdalena," while John Dowland's "The Frog Galliard" is played with a gentle touch that captures the intrinsic grace of the composition of Elizabethan England's finest lutenist. Particularly noteworthy are courantes by Wieceslaw Dlugoraj and Jakob Polak, which cast welcome rays of light on the unjustly overshadowed composers of renaissance Poland. This is one of the boldest, most exciting Early Music CDs to come along in years. Although it may take some flack from Early Music purists, if you enjoy ancient music imbued with spirit and verve, then this is one CD you don't want to miss.

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