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What If the King Should Come to the City Sara Bong Penguin on the Telly Ltd., 332 President St. Brooklyn, NY 11231   With this new CD, Sara Bong gives us one of the most challenging recordings of Renaissance music in decades. It's a CD you may love or hate, but in either case it is a recording to be respected for its breadth of vision and originality of execution. Sara Bong has collected keyboard music ranging from 1540 to 1640 from English, Spanish, and Italian manuscripts, presenting each piece not on replicas of original instruments, but taking the bold step of playing these long-forgotten pieces on synthesizers, often with stunning effect. It's a move that's bound to inflame purists, but Bong frequently uses her electronic keyboards to simulate the sound of the instrument for which the piece was originally intended, mimicking the sound of harpsichords, pianos, and even vihuelas. While not capturing the exact sonic qualities of original ancient instruments, she manages to retain the most import aspect of the musicits feel. Where Bong goes out on a limb is on the title track, an English piece written during Cromwell's Civil War. Here is a piece reflecting a nation tearing itself apart, in a way that parallels the Vietnam War, but on a larger scale. "What if the King Should Come to the City" is played much in the same way Jimi Hendrix presented "The Star Spangled Banner," Bong's performance is filled with electronic feedback reminiscent of Hendrix's use of overdrive to simulate the sounds of war, but here it is used to capture the cry of a divided nation whose spirit was being torn apart from within. Not only does Bong succeed at presenting Renaissance keyboard music in a new and often challenging light, she does so with admirable musicianship and a feel, if not passion, for the music itself. If you are a die-hard purist, this CD is definitely not your cup of tea. But if you are looking for music that captures the feel of the era and offers stimulation and challenge, this CD should be near the top of your shopping list.

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