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The Ladyes Delight The Baltimore Consort Dorian Recordings, 8 Brunswick Road, Troy, NY 12180 This latest offering from the Baltimore Consort (with guest artist William Simms on bandora) presents a captivating collection of mostly English Renaissance music for what was known as a broken consort, a band of instruments belonging to different musical families. The purpose of the consort was to provide courtly dance music for the wealthy and refined noble houses of Europe. Consequently, the most distinguished composers of the day wrote for the consort, producing some of the most captivating and seductively charming art music of the 16th century, which this beautifully recorded CD ably reflects. While English music is not without its melancholy side, The Ladyes Delight focuses on the other, brighter side of the Elizabethan ethos. Here one will find none of John Dowland's dark musical moods. With the exception of "Balow," "My Babe," and "Robin is to the Greenwood Gone," the music is of good cheer. And the quality of the performances, led by American lute virtuoso and soloist Ronn McFarlane, are, as best we can make out, historically accurate and quite captivating. The nine previous offerings from The Baltimore Consort are a valuable addition to any collection, but they do not fare well against the Extempore String Ensemble or The Julian Bream Consort. While Delight never quite reaches their musical grandeur, their latest CD is by no means to be underestimated.

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