The Corbie and the Pigot-Wemyss Lute Book
Faire and Loucky
Almand - Rene Mesangeau (c.1575-1630)
Pavana-Robert Johnson (c.1583-1633)
La Jeune Fillette - Daniel Batcheler (1573-1619)
John Dowland (1563-1626) - Galliard upon a Galliard of Daniel Batchelar
The first three recordings on this page are taken from "Lady Maggie's Lilt" - a collection of music from the lutebook of Lady Margaret Wemyss. According to the second page of this manuscript lute book, it was 'begunne june 5 1643' by Lady Margaret, who would have been 12 years old. It contains a wealth of traditional Scots tunes arranged for the lute, as well as sophisticated early French baroque lute music. Sadly, Lady Margaret died only 7 years later, at the age of 19.
Available now from Amazon here
New release June 2018-The Dark Lord's Music
Music from the lute book of Edward, Lord Herbert of Cherbury (1582- 1648), one of the most extraordinary figures of 17th Century English life.The brother of the poet George Herbert, he was in his own right a diplomat, soldier, courtier, philosopher, poet, historian and musician, as well as being the author of one of the earliest and most entertaining autobiographies in English. In it, he tells us that he learnt "to play on the Lute with very litle or almost noe teaching." However, his lute book, preserved in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, tells another story, for it is among the most important sources of English and Continental instrumental music of this period. Almost all the major English lute composers of the era are represented, while the large number of works by Continental composers is probably a consequence of Lord Herbert's extensive travels and wide range of acquaintance throughout Europe. The book also contains extraordinary and otherwise unknown works by Cuthbert Hely and Lord Herbert himself, a last echo of English lute music's "Golden Age".
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New CD available now!
The Gramophone, September 2013
"Martin Eastwell is a thoughtful unfussy guide, and the intimacy of his playing is captured in a recording that leaves the listener feeling like a favoured eavesdropper."
Performance ★★★★
Recording ★★★★
BBC Music Magazine, July 2013
"This charming collection.....played beautifully by Martin Eastwell on a wonderful sounding 12 course lute....a fascinating insight into the musical tastes that surrounded the Scottish court at the time... a wonderfully soothing antidote to modern living."
The Epoch Times, March 2013
"...attractive, often deeply moving music that is beautifully played."
Music Web International
"...... a mesmerising lutenist who brings out every little nuance and detail from these often elusive works....a must for all enthusiasts of the lute."
The Classical Reviewer