1501...

Boston Renaissance Ensemble Cassette: Meg Pash.

VS: First side includes 3 Bransles de Bourgongne and a Bransle gay. The second has Nido d'Amore, Furioso alla Spagnuola, Contrapasso Nouvo, Passo e mezzo from Nobilta di Dame, and Torneo Amoroso from Le gratie d'amore. The Furioso works perfectly, and can also be used for Furioso all'Italiana and Furioso Nuovo with long introductions. The Torneo Amoroso works. I don't know about the rest, but expect so, as these musicians work with dancers. A:**** U:*** (It's usable, just there's only the 5 pieces plus 4 branles, and who does branles, anyway ... )

16th Century Italian and French Dance Music

Musica Reservata CD: Boston Skyline, BSD123, 1994.

AB: David Munrow, from the vault compilation of 2 early-70's recordings; Includes: various galliards, pavans; "passamezo" La Bataille pavan; Moresca; tordion; branle simple.

LH: This is actually the highlights from two albums released in 1971: 16th Century Italian Dance Music (Philips LP 6500 102) and 16th Century French Dance Music (Philips LP 6500 293). Just naming the musicians should give you a clue to the quality of this compilation: John Beckett, David Munrow, Desmond Dupre, Christopher Hogwood, Grayston Burgess, Nigel Rogers, Michael Ovenham, David Thomas, and Michael Morrow, Director. Need I say more? All of the original liner notes are even included. You will also want to pick up Dance Music of the High Renaissance (Boston Skyline CD BSD 118, originally Archiv LP 198166).

A Hitch in Time

VLB Recording Cassette: Wail Songs, 1990.

Produced in USA by Wail Songs, PO Box 29888, Oakland, CA, 94604.

Track Listing: Suicide Branle, Basse Dance, Official, Washerwoman's, Scottish, Horses, Single, Double, Galliarde, Morris Dances, Gay, Clog, Montarde, Buffens, Pavan, Pease, Tourdion.

JPD: One small annoyance on this recording is that many of the branles have short (1-4 count) breaks between each repeat, which can throw off dancers' rhythm. Otherwise OK. Aesthetic appeal: *** Usability: ***

A la Ferrarese: Bassedanze, Balli e Canzone

Schola Cantorum Basiliensis CD: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, GD 7724.

Track Listing: La Figlia Guiliemino, Petit Vriens, Amoroso, Leoncello, La Franchoise Nouvelle, La Danza Ravestain, La Danza Cleves, Cancon de' Pifari Dicto el Ferrarese, Il Re di Spagna (two arrangements), Collinetto (two arrangements)

DH: Well worth a listen, and is very nice to dance to.

A La Via, Medievales de Quebec

Strada, and Ensemble Anonymous CD: Analekta, AN 2 8003.

Track Listing: Bransle des Cheveux, Saltarello, Schiarazula Marazula, Br. de Poitou et d'Ecosse, Chanconetta tedesca, and Jouyssance (didn't say whose).

Airs Populaires Anglais du XVIIe Siecle

Broadside Band CD: Harmonia Mundi, HMA 1901039, 1992.

Reprint of Airs Populaires Anglais du XVIIe Siecle, 1980.

Instruments: Flutes, flageolet, tambourine, regal, virginal, recorders, galoubet, harpsichord, violin, kit, baroque fiddle, rebec, lute, mandore, cittern, mandolin, viols, hurdy-gurdy.

Track Listing: Hyde Park, Maiden Lane, St. Paul's Wharf, Tower Hill, Gray's Inn, Cuckolds all in a Row, Merry Milkmaids We, Woodicock, Newcastle, Callino Casturame, Come live with me and be my love, Light O'Love, Jog on, Greensleeves, Fortune my Foe, Packington's Pound, Chi passa, All in a Garden Green, La Folia, Quatre Branles, The Clean Contrary Way, Gilderoy, Gilliecrankie, The Miller of the Dee. The new Exchange: Go from my window, the new exchange. Kettle Drum: Kettle Drum, Kettle Drum, Trumpet Tune, The Indian Queen or the new Bouree. A Health to Betty: A health to Betty, My mother's ay glow-ring o'er me. The fine companion: The fine companion, the merry companion, the boon companion. The healths: The healths, the healths, La Bouree, The glory of the west, St. Paul's Steeple, Jack Pudding, Parson's Farewell.

JPD: The emphasis in this recording is on the degree to which tunes evolved: from popular song, to country dance, back to popular song, and emphasizes dance tunes which also appeared as broadside ballads. Some settings are taken directly from Playford and other sources; some are improvised by the band based around the original melody. The final tracks show examples of various related versions of the same tune. Since the primary goal of this CD is to illustrate these points rather than just present dance tunes, not all of the tunes are usable as dance music. However, a significant portion of them are, and make for enjoyable dancing. Aesthetic Appeal: **** Usability: ** - ****

Airs Populaires Anglais du XVIIe Siecle

Broadside Band LP: Harmonia Mundi, 1980.

Alta Danza - Dance Music from 15th-Century Italy

Les Haulz et les Bas CD: Heidelberg: Chrsitophorus, CHR 77208, 1998.

Track Listing: Rostiboli Gioioso, Gratioso, Fiore de Virtu, Colonnese, Leoncello, Presonera, Ingrata, Marchesana, Bassadanza (1), Bassa franzese, La Fia Guielmina, Amoroso, Bialte di Castiglia, Gelosia, Pizochara, Vercepe, Tesara, Damnes, Voltati in ca Rosina, Castelana, Spero, Legiadra, La vita di Colino, Bassadanza (2), Saltarello, Piva

DE: Altogether an excellent recording and along with Mesure et Arte a recording that has to be in the collection of anyone doing 15th C Italian dance. Although the tracks aren't quite as danceable as those on Mesure, it does contain some tracks that aren't found elsewhere including two bassadanza tunes and a saltarello and piva that are suitable for improvisation. The Amoroso on this CD is my favourite recording.

Altenglische Country Dances

Musikedition Grüneis Cassette: Benediktbeuren: c/o R. Busch-Hofer, Gasse 21, 83671.

MD: This is kind of a standard cassette for Playford dances here. For the country dances a very good book, including detailed reconstructions and notes (4 voices), is available.

Ansteorran Dance Symposiom ASXXVII

(artist unknown) CD:.

Track Listing: Hearts Ease, If All The World Were Paper, Black Nag, Newcastle, Picking of Sticks, Jenny Plucks Pears, Rufty Tufty, Wherligig, Mage on a Cree, Goddesses, Saint Martins, Gathering Peascods, Mayden Layne, Sellengers' Round, So Ben Mi Chi Ha Buon Tempo, The Highland Fling

DE: An SCA recording. All useful, danceable tracks. There are some versions floating about with a non-copyable version of Wherligig on them, but the rest of the tracks are freely copyable. I have no idea who the musicians are.

Ansteorran Kingdom Dance Workshop

Marcus il Volpe Cassette: Texas: Jaded Puppy Productions, 1991.

Instrument: Synthesizer.

Track Listing: Hole in the Wall, Earl of Salisbury Pavan, Montard, Maltese Branle, Hermit Br. / Burgundian / Clog, Horses' Branle, Lazy Robin, Nonesuch, Gathering Peascods, Black Nag, Rufty Tufty, Spagnoletto, Dit de Bourgignon, Half Hannikin, Pepper's Black, La Pavan Inconstante, Stirling Rant, Jouyessance vous Donnerais/Signature Pavan, So Ben Mi Ch'a Buon Tempo, Catena d'Amore, Il Canario, Tourdion Magdalena & Basse Dance, Korobushka, Pavan Venitzia.

JPD: Has companion book of dance instructions. Fairly nice arrangements and "instrumentation", but obviously synthesized music throughout. Aesthetic Appeal: *.5 Usability: ***

Arbeau: Orchésographie

New York Renaissance Band Cassette: Arabesque Recordings, ABQC7514, 1984.

Arbeau: Orchésographie

New York Renaissance Band CD: Arabesque Recordings, Z6514, 1989.

Reprint of Arbeau: Orchésographie, 1984.

Track Listing: Pavan & Galliarde: Belle qui; Basse dance: Jouissance vous donneray; Tourdion; Galliardes: La traditore, Antoinette, Si j'ayme ou non, La Fatigue, La Milannoise, J'aymerois mieulx, L'ennuy qui; Branles: Double, Simple, Gay, Bourgoigne, Cassandra, Pinagay, Charlotte, La Guerre, Aridan, Poictou, Ecosse, Le Triory de Bretaigne, Malte, Lavandieres, Pois, Hermites, La Torche, Sabots, Chevaulx, Montarde, Le Haye, L'Official, Gavotte; La Volta, Morrisques, The Canary, Pavan d'Espagne, Bouffons

JPD: See also: Renaissance Dance Music 1&2 Although these tapes were released under different names, the contents of the first two are identical, RDM 1&2 is the same group of dances with some selections from Michael Praetorius' Terpsichore tacked on the end. Some of the branles are very short, only two repeats, so you might need to splice together to make long enough to be interesting. Aesthetic appeal: **** Usability: ***

MW: This CD, available in various forms...has a bunch of excellently useful tracks, including some of the best branles I know.

MH: Two nagging points here. The Haye Bransle does not have enough repetitions in the last section for a full three-person Haye. The Horses Bransle repeats the final section so, if you are dancing this, you must repeat the stomping-turn section twice to fit the music.

LH: The selections on this are wonderful to simply listen to as well as to dance to but most of them are very short! Program notes lead you directly to Arbeau and state whether the musical version is his or from another source.

Balli di Fabrizio Caroso e Cesare Negri

Oertel, Angelika Cassette: Benediktbeuren: Musikedition Grüneis, c/o R. Busch-Hofer, Gasse 21, 83671.

MD: This is a lute solo recording of high quality made by Angelika Oertel, who is a very good dancer also. A book was planned also, but I don't know whether it really exists.

Balli e Balletti da Ballare: Danses de la Renaissance Italien

Atelier Danse, and Flagel, Claude CD: ADDA Distribution, FM 581071, 1987.

Also distributed by Qualiton Imports as "Italian Dance Music of the Renaissance"

Instruments: recorders, 7-course lute, bass curtal, cornetto, viola da gamba, harpsichord.

Track Listing: Laura Suave, Furioso all'Italiania, Barriera Nuova, Passo e Mezzo, Bizzarria d'Amore, Bassa Pompilia, So Ben Mi Chi Ha Bon Tempo, Pavana e Gagliarda, Il Canario, Ruota di Fortuna, Contrapasso Nuovo, Chiaranzana.

JPD: Dance advisor was Andrea Francalanci. Apparently, there may exist a companion book by Francalanci by the same name, which includes facsimiles of the sources to encourage people to approach the work critically and examine why various choices were made. The liner notes for this state that they emphasized a correlation between the instrumentation and the choreography, so you may hear, for example, a cornetto representing the gentleman's part, and a recorder the Lady's. Aesthetic Appeal: **** Usability: ***.5

VS: Of the dances on it that I am familiar with, Bizzaria d'Amore works, Passo e Mezzo, the Pavane and Gagliard, and Il Canario are all clear and good tempi. The Furioso all'Italiana, however, disagrees with the reconstruction I'm used to; the second "Alla Sciolta della Sonata" part of the dance only has enough music to be done once, not twice. Chiaranzana also seems usable, although I am not totally familiar with the dance. It lasts 15 minutes, so long enough for the real dance. A:*** U:*** (because of the Furioso - if some one can point out that it was meant to be that way for reconstruction purposes, I'd up it to ****, but not being familiar with the other dances, I can't be sure I trust all of them.)

Calliope Dances - A Renaissance Revel

Calliope CD: Nonesuch, 79039-2, 1992.

Reprint of Dances: A Renaissance Revel, 1982.

Carolingian Dance Tape, Version 2

Fishman, Mark Cassette: Boston:, 1976.

Track Listing: La Spagna, Le Moys de May, Verceppe, Gelosia, Hole in the Wall, Belle Qui/tourdion, Galliard, Bransles: Single, Double, Burgundian, Charlotte, Scottish, Pease, Official, Maltese, Gay, Horses, Montarde, Torches.

MW: The Carolingian Dance Tape, Version 2 (I've never seen or heard Version 1, and I'm unconvinced that it really existed) was produced by Mark Fishman (a friend of Patri's) in 1976. It's mostly Arbeau, with a modicum of assorted other stuff. Good tape.... It's still one of the more useful dance tapes around -- unfancy, but reasonably pleasant to listen to and entirely useful.

Celeste Giglio

Flowers of 16th-Century Italian Dance Music

Lachrimae Ensemble CD: Erasmus Muziek Producties, WVH186, 1996.

On line URL: http://utopia.ision.nl/users/dorothee/lachrimae.htm

Track Listing: Courante, Celeste Giglio, Chiara Stella, Ballo fatto da sei Cavalieri, Il Bianco Fiore, Spagnoletta, Gagliarda detta la Lisfeltina di Santino, Gagliarda, La Battaglia, Villanella, Villanella (Bagpipe version), La Volta, Improvisations on La Folia, Bassa Toscana, Brando detto Alta Regina, Alta Mendozza, Ballo del Fiore / Branle du Chandelier.

DE: This recording, available through Dorothee Wortelboer in the Netherlands (see the URL) is a good, listenable, and danceable recording of 16th C Italian dance tunes. I have to disagree with the speed of some of the recordings, but generally speaking a useful supplement to other recordings of music of the period. There are two companion books available, one containing sheet music for some (not all) of the recordings, and one containing dance reconstructions.

Cesare Negri - Le Gratie d'Amore

Ensemble La Follia CD: Genoa, Italy: Dynamics r.l., S2001, 1997.

Track Listing: Lo Spagnoletto, Brando di Cales, Leggiadra Marina, Bizzarria d'Amore, Il Grazioso, Il Torneo Amoroso, So ben mi chi ha bon tempo, Il Bigara, Cortesia Amorosa, Bassa Gioiosa, Alta Somaglia, Ballo fatto da sei Cavalieri, Il Bianco Fiore, Il Pastor Lieggiadro, Il Cesarino, Fedelta d'Amore

DE: A must-have recording for anyone working with Negri's dances. The tracks appear to have the correct number of repeats for all dances, and the recording quality and musicianship is excellent.

Cesare Negri: La Gratie D'amore (1602)

Oxford University Early Music Society Cassette: Quentin Miller.

Available from Quentin Miller, 31 East Avenu, OXFORD OX4 1XP, England. Funds must be in pounds (International money orders are available) and should be made out to R.Q. Miller. Verify tape availability (quentin@comlab.ox.ac.uk) before ordering.

Track Listing: So ben mi chi ha bon tempo, Il Bigara, Il Torneo Amoroso, Il Bizarro, Alta Mendozza, Alta Visconte, Austria Felice, Ballo fatto da sei Cavalieri, Alamana d'Amore, La Catena D'amore

QM: Dance advisor is Nancy J. Walker. This recording has been arranged and performed with dance teaching in mind: tempi are (we think) appropriate for novice dancers; a drum beat introduces each piece, so that one isn't caught off guard by the start of the music; sections are repeated enough times to accompany the entire dance (no matter how excruciating!); and each piece ends with a long chord to accompany the reverenza. Cost per cassette tape (including postage and packaging): U.K.: £6.56, Europe: £6.81, Elsewhere: £7.73.

Chominciamento di gioia

Ensemble Unicorn CD: Naxos, 8.553131.

VS: Has 3 Saltarelli, including La Regina played at suicide speed, plus other early dance music. (This is 14th C stuff, all dance music, I believe.) A:*** U:? We don't have period choreographies, but it's lively stuff - might convince people to figure out how to improvise ...

Cornucopia

Musica Subterranea CD: Musica Subterranea, 2000.

On line URL: http://www.musicasubterranea.dhs.org/

Track Listing: Banish Misfortune, Dolce Amoroso Fuoco, Canarias, Fedelta, Quen Quer Que, Gracca Amorosa, Scotch Cap, Chestnut, Il Conto dell'Orco, Villanella, Jenny Pluck Pears, Old Mole, Oranges and Lemons, Cuckolds all in a Row, Quen Quer Que, Maid at the Spinning Wheel, On the Banks of Helicon, Lo Spagnoletto, Gathering Peascods, Lord Sun & Lady Moon, Mairi's Wedding.

DE: The second CD by the SCA band Musica Subterranea. Well worth obtaining a copy of, even if not all of the tunes on it are useful for dancing (the majority of them are, and good tempo, and correct repeats).

Country Capers

New York Renaissance Band CD: Arabesque, NB 7520 or Z6520 or DIDX92, 1984.

See Also: Renaissance Dance Music, 3 & 4. New York Renaissance Band. Arabesque 81-7201, 1984. Book of the Month Club, 1986.

Instruments: shawms, recorders, dulcian, cornetto, chalumeau, percussion, violin, viols, lute.

Track Listing: 1. Rufty Tufty, Hearts Ease, Argeers 2. Chestnut, Boate Man, Dissembling Love, Confesse 3. The Maid Peeped Out at the Window, Petticoat Wag, The Merry Milke Maids 4. Newcastle, The Fine Companion, Kettle Drum 5. Mundesse, Lull Me Beyond Thee, Dargason 6. Gathering Peascods, The Beggar Boy, Jenny Pluck Pears 7. Upon a Summer's Day, Saturday Night and Sunday Morn 8. Staines Morris, Lavena, The Glory of the West

JPD: Very pretty and fairly period sounding, very danceable to, though somewhat brisk. One complaint is that each track has three to four dances on it, so you might have to fuss with it to set up tapes with only the dance you want. (I've heard that some prints of this CD are missing the final tracks. Check yours.) Aesthetic appeal: **** Usability: ***

MW: This one largely uses arrangements by Marshall Barron... Not all tracks are useable, but a large fraction are, and the music is a delight to listen to.

Country Dances

Broadside Band Cassette: Harmonia Mundi, HM 40.1109.

Track Listing: Grimstock, Upon a Summer's Day, The Spanish Gypsie, Rufty Tufty, Gray's Inne Mask or Mad Tom, Bobbing Joe, The friar and the Nun, Drive the Cold Winter Away, Half Hannikin, Jenny Pluck Pears, The New Exchange, Go from my Window, Kettle Drum, Indian Queen, A health to Betty, The Fine Companion, The Glory of the West, St. Paul's Steeple, Jack Pudding, Parson's Farewell.

JPD: Very pretty, nicely danceable, always the right number of repeats. A little slow... Aesthetic appeal: **** Usability: ****

Courtly Dances of Western Europe 1450 - 1650

Jouissance CD: Jouissance, 1999.

Availabel from Janelle Durham, janelyn@msn.com, copyright reserved, but may be reproduced for not-for-profit instruction, practice or performance.

Track Listing: Casuelle la Nouelle, Petit Riense, Anello, Amoroso, Lioncello Vecchio, Lauro, Branle Simple, Branle Charlotte, Pease Branle, Washerwoman's Branle, Prandle Pinagay, Pavan: Belle Qui Tiens Ma Vie, Galliard: Baison Nous Belle, Joissance Vous Donneray, Tourdion La Magdalena, Ballo del Fiore, Contentezza d'Amore, Carman's Whistle, La Caccia d'Amore, Galliard: La Caccia d'Amore, Queen's Alman, Black Alman, Rufty Tufty, Upon a Summer's Day, Gathering Peascods, Mage on a Cree/Wherligig.

DE: Another highly useful CD from the ever increasing number of SCA musicians being recorded. This one is somewhat higher quality than most, and is professionally pressed as opposed to produced on a CD burner. Worth having, especially for the recordings of La Caccia d'Amore and Contentezza d'Amore which are my favourites of these tunes.

Dance Music of the High Renaissance

Collegium Terpsichore, and Ulsamer-Collegium CD: Boston Skyline, BSD 118, 1993.

AB: From the Vault compilation of 2 earlier recordings by Collegium Terpsichore and Ulsamer-Collegium. Includes 6 from Terpsichore; Branle de Bourgogne; several galliards.

Dance Music of the Renaissance

(artist unknown) CD: RCA Victrola, VICS-1328.

Track Listing: Branle de Brougogne, Branle gay nouveau, Pavan: Mille Regrets, Ronde, Pavan: Si pas souffrir, Ronde and Saltarello, Hoeboecken dans, Ronde: Il estoit, Branle, L'arboscello ballo Furlano, Pavan, Galliarde, 3 Intradas, Tordion, Pavan, Galliarde, Polnischer Tanz, Galliarde

Dance Music of the Renaissance

(artist unknown) CD: Musical Heritage Society, MHS-3938.

Reprint of Dance Music of the Renaissance, .

dance!

Renaissonics CD:, 1996.

Dances by Dowland

Bream, Julian CD: MHS 512422A, 1989.

AB: Re-release of 60's recording. All lute music. Various galliards; pavans; almans; jigs.

Dances by the Marian Ensemble

Dale, Heather CD: Amphisbaena Music, AM953, 2001.

On line URL: http://www.heatherdale.com/

Track Listing: Amoroso, Ballo del Fiore, Black Nag, Female Sailor, Gathering Peascods, Hole in the Wall, Il Canario, La Vita di Cholino, Schiarazula Marazula, Petit Riens, Rufty Tufty, Saltarello La Regina.

DE: This CD, by Heather Dale (known in the SCA as Marian of Heatherdale) is worht obtaining, if only for the recordings of La Vita di Cholino which is otherwise hard to obtain. The CD contains various other recordings useful for SCA dancing purposes, with the correct number of repeats.

Dances from Terpsichore

Collegium Terpsichore, and Behrend, Siegfried, and Fink, Siegfried, and Ulsamer-Collegium CD: Innovative Music Productions (IMP), IMPX 9026.

DE: A number of good danceable tunes from Praetorius. Worth exploring.

AB: Re-release of 1961 recording. Includes a lot of dance tunes: courantes; voltas; La Magdalena basse dance; saltarelli; allemandes, galliards; branles; bouree.

Dances from Terpsichore

Collegium Terpsichore, and Behrend, Siegfried, and Fink, Siegfried, and Ulsamer-Collegium Cassette: Contour, CCTC7565.

Reprint of Dances from Terpsichore, .

Dances from the Courts of Europe

Nonsuch Early Dance Cassette: Eglinton Productions, 1986.

JPD: This music was developed in conjunction with the Nonsuch Summer Schools in Early Dance, held annually since 1976, under the direction of Peggy Dixon. The recordings were made over a number of years, as they were required for each summer school. When these tapes were compiled, some of the original recordings were replaced, some retained. Because of the evolving nature of this compilation, the aesthetic appeal ranges a bit, as does the recording quality, but overall, they're nice sounding and quite useful for performing a variety of dances. A note of caution about the books: the step reconstructions are based on the work of Melusine Wood, and more recent scholars frequently disagree with some of the assumptions she made. Particularly the "medieval" dances on Tape #1 are based on very little actual information from period. Between each track on the tape, the name of the next dance is announced, which I find very helpful when searching a tape for a dance tune which I am not familiar with; luckily, the announcement is very quiet, which means you could use this tape even at an event without having to run over to stop your tape from _shouting_ out the name of the next dance. Aesthetic Appeal: **-*** Usability: ***

DH: We've mainly used volume 2, though we have done some of the dances from other volumes. In general, a good variety of dances, though occassionally with odd tempos and sometimes uninteresting arrangements. I would agree with the note of caution about the reconstructions presented in the accompanying books - for almost every dance from vol. 2 we've done, we found it better to go back to the original source. Some of the 'medieval' dance choreographies - especially the estampies - tend to be rather dull, to my mind. Other than this, a good series to own.

Volume 1: Medieval (to 15th c. French basse dance)

Nonsuch Early Dance Cassette: Eglinton Productions, 1986.

Track Listing: Branle Double, Branle Simple, Branle Gai. Branles coupes: Picardy, Ce fut en mai, Voulex-vous, Chanson de Mail, Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, Unto us a boy is born, Tempus adest floridum. Summer Farandole, Winter Farandole. Ductia, Danse Royale. Estampies: Simple, Double, Gai. Estampies Royales: La Prime, La Seconde, La Tierche, La Quarte, La Quinte, La Sexte, La Septime, La Ultime. Old Almaine. Basse Dances: La Dame, La Spagna (Ghiselin), Basse dance for step practice, Tandernacken, La Spagna (Josquin)

Volume 2: Italian Renaissance (15th c) and Caroso and Negri Dances

Nonsuch Early Dance Cassette: Eglinton Productions, 1986.

Track Listing: 15th c. dances: Pellegrina, Rostibolly, Anello, Alexandresca, Gelosia, Mercantia, Daphnes, Sobria, Jupiter, Zinerva, Prexoniera, Venus, Verceppe. 16th c. dances: Torneo Amoroso, Bella Gioiosa (Cascarda), Austria Felice, Furioso, Alta Mendoza, Brando di Cales, Corrente.

Volume 3: Elizabethan Dances (16th c), part 1

Nonsuch Early Dance Cassette: Eglinton Productions, 1986.

Track Listing: Jouissance and Tordion, Tordion, Pavane and Tordion d'Albart, Almaine and Recoupe, New Almaine, Tant que Vivray, Belle qui tiens ma vie, Pavane and Galliarde Ferrarese, Frog Galliarde, Flatt Pavane & Frog Galliarde, Pavane & Galliarde d'Albart, P & G d'Angleterre, Belle qui, English Coranto, Spanish Pavan, La Volta, Les Bouffons, Pavane la Bataille, La Morisque, The Fairy Round.

Volume 4: Elizabethan Dances, 16th c. Part II, including Playford

Nonsuch Early Dance Cassette: Eglinton Productions, 1986.

Track Listing: 16th century branles: Charlotte, Pinagay, Aridan, Horses', Official, Clog, Washerwomen's, War, Montarde, Scottish, Branles coupes. Almans: Black, Queen's, Cecilia. Playfords: Nonesuch, Confesse, Heartsease, Parsons' Farewell, Rufty Tufty, Sellinger's Round, Mundesse, Cuckolds all Awry, Shepherd's Holiday, Dargason, St. Martins, Love for Love.

Dances from the Inns of Court

Jouissance CD:, 1997.

Track Listing: Quadran Pavan, Turkelone, Earl of Essex, Tinternell, Old Alman, Queens Alman, Madam Sosilia, Black Alman, Lorayne Alman, New Alman, repeats every track.

DE: This CD, produced by Peter and Janelle Durham, is a worthy successor to the sadly out of print "Musicke for Dauncinge". It contains 10 of the old measures, firstly in a format where 4 repeats of each dance are given (8 for the Quadran Pavan) and then in a format with only 1 or 2 repeats. The musicianship is good and the repeats and structure are correct for dancing all of these dances.

Dances: A Renaissance Revel

Calliope CD: Nonesuch, 79039-2, 1982.

Instruments: viols, vielle, sackbuts, recorders, krumhorns, cornetto, percussion, pipe and tabor.

Track Listing: Praetorius: Galliarde, Three Voltas, Galliarde, Galliarde Dimunutions, ballet des Anglois, Branle de la Royne; Attaingnant: Basse "La Brosse"; Taunder Naken; La Spagna: de la Torre; Guglielmo, Isaac; 16th c. French: Two Galliardes, Pavan, basse "Au Pres de Vous", Three Branles Gay, Branle Simple. L'homme Arme.

JPD: Guglielmo's La Spagna is very nice, and very danceable. Isaac's La Spagna is nice too. Otherwise, this CD is fairly unremarkable: the tracks are fine, and fairly useable, but not outstanding. Aesthetic Appeal: *** Usability: **+

Danses de la Renaissance

Clemencic Consort CD: Harmonia Mundi, HM 90610.

Instruments: cornet, renaissance trombone, sackbut, viol, vielle, bombards, crumhorns, regal, harp, flute, percussion, and voice.

Track Listing: Danses de la Renaissance: Jacques Moderne: Trois branles de Bourgogne, branle gay nouveau. Susato: pavan "Mille Regrets", Ronde, Pavan "Si pas souffrir", Ronde, Saltarelle, Hoboecken Dans, Rone "Il estoit une fillette." Gervaise: Branle. Phalese: L'Arboscello Ballo Furlano. Melchior Frank: Pavan, Galliarde. Hans Leo Hassler: Entree 1, 2, 3. Attaignant: Tourdion, Pavan, Galliarde. Demantius: Danse Polonaise, Galliarde. Danses Medievales: Solo de Cornemuse, Ballade "Ma chiere dame". Danses Anonymes: Saltarello, Trotto, Ballata "Ben ch'io", Lonc le rieu de la fontaine. Organum Benedicamus Domino. Rondeau "Franc cuer gentil." Marguerite d'Autriche: L'esperance de bourbon, Sans faire, La danse de cleves, Filles a marier.

AD: Quite a few good danceable tunes, including some 15th C basse danses.

JPD: I saw a favorable review of this on the Rendance discography, but I was a little less impressed. The Danse de cleves is nice, and the anonymous Saltarello is a nice version of the music used for Saltarello La Regina. Otherwise, the assorted pavans and galliards are nice, but not remarkable. Aesthetics: *** Usability: ***

Danses Populaires Francaises et Anglaises Du XVIe Siecle

Broadside Band CD: Harmonia Mundi, HMC901152, 1984.

Instruments: flute, clavecin, violin, viol, vielle a roue, lute, mandora, cittern, guitar, tambourine, tabor, and triangle.

Track Listing: Arbeau: Branles: double, simple, gay, de Bourgogne, Cassandra, Pinagay, Charlotte; Basse Dance: Jouissance vous donneray; Tourdions; Pavan: Belle Qui; Galliardes: La traditore my fa morire, Antoinette, J'aymerois; La Volte; Branles: Poictou, Ecosse, Bretagne, Malte, Lavandieres, Chevaulx; Jouyssance vous donneray; Three French Corantos; Basse Dance: La Roques; Recercada segunda; La dance de la Haye, Branle:l'Official; Moresques; Canaries; Les Bouffons Playford: Grimstock, Upon a Summer's Day, The Spanish Gipsy, Rufty Tufty, Gray's Inn Mask, Bobbing Joe

JPD: Very pretty, very danceable. A few of the English Country dances are a little slow, but still nice. Because of the overall quality of the music, and the nice range of dances represented, this is one of our most recommended CD's. Aesthetic appeal: **** Usability: ****

DH: Pretty musch all the bransles are useable, as is the first Jouyessance and tourdion (the second is rather slow...). The Mourisques / Canaries / Bouffens are really just snippets, so aren't that much use. The Playfords are also reasonable, if (as noted above) rather slow in places.

LH: This has some wonderful instrumentation and is definitely "courtly" (even the country dances). The tempos are mostly on the brisk side and might prove too quick for beginning dancers although more experienced dancers should find them exhilarating. A surprising exception to this is the country dance, "Bobbing Joe", which is done in a very slow tempo. There are several dances to each track on the court dances. You may find yourself needing to loop some of the dances in order to make it match the dances as we do them. Nice fast (and relatively short) version of "Jouissance vous donneray".

Danses, Danseryes, Musica Antiqua

Ensemble d'Instruments Anciens, and Mendoze, Christian CD: Disques Pierre Verany, PV 785022 / CA 803, 1984.

VS: Includes 9 dances of Praetorius (Bransle double is fine, the 2 Courante seem too slow, but I don't really do them), 8 from Mainerio (including a Schiarazula Marazula), 4 from Moderne (incl. a tordion), 5 from Gervaise, 7 from Susato, and 8 miscellaneous mediaeval pieces, not all dances, including La Regina as the first of the two Saltarelli. A:*** U:*** (It's dance music, at danceable tempi, but we don't necessarily have stuff for all the dances on it.)

Danzare et Sonare: 15th c. Italian Dances

The Longslade Consort Cassette:.

Available for £7 including postage from Diana Cruickshank (see address at DHDS). Companion book available for £6.

Track Listing: Petit Vriens, Annello, Gelosia, Figlia Guielmina, Amoroso, Verceppe, Gracioso, Rossina, Leggiadra.

JPD: Nice recording, with lots of usable stuff on it. One nice touch is that for two of the dances (Gelosia and Figlia) where there are two equally valid reconstructions, the tape provides one recording of each of the versions, allowing you to choose the one you prefer. Tempo and number of repetitions always a reasonable choice. Aesthetic Appeal: *** Usability: ****

Dream of the Troubadour

Searles, Richard, and Yslas, Gilbert CD: Sundown, SUN-589D.

LH: Despite the assumption the title might lead you to make, this is instrumental Renaissance music performed on guitars and most of it is dance music. Although because of its instrumentation it doesn't have the true "Renaissance sound" of many of the other recordings listed here, the tempos are very good and could be used for dancing.

Elizabethan Music for the Dulcimer

Wilkinson, Randy Cassette: Kicking Mule Records, KM226, 1982.

AB: Contains: Almans, pavans, including Earl of Salisbury. Very nice

English Country Dance Music

The Boxwood Consort Cassette: The Boxwood Consort, BX 101, 1991.

Track Listing: Round Pond, Female Saylor, Linda's Valse Linda, Saint Martin's, Jack's Maggot, Jenny Pluck Pears, Margaret's Waltz/Farewell to Devon, Heartsease, Knole Park/Loxley Figure Eight, Sun Assembly, Trip to Paris, Draper's Garden's, Green Willow, John Tallis' Cannon.

JPD: Good for modern English country; limited SCA use because not much period stuff, modern sounding music. Aesthetic appeal: *** Usability: **

English Country Dances

Bare Necessities Cassette: Varrick Records, C-VR-013, 1987.

Track Listing: Jamaica, Waters of Holland, Maiden Lane, Well Hall, Juice of the Barley, Barham Down, Easter Thursday, Dick's Maggot, Bare Necessities, The Maid Peeped Out at the Window (The Friar in the Well), Trip to Kilburn (to tune of Black and Grey)

JPD: This is a fine enough tape, but there's only two dances on here that I have seen done in An Tir (and not commonly): Well Hall and Juice of Barley, both of which are out of period. Aesthetic appeal: *** Usability: ***

DZ: In the Debatable Lands we do Maiden Lane, which is first-edition Playford, and Jamaica, Juice of the Barley, Dick's Maggot, and Bare Necessities, which are not. Some lovely - if quite modern - arrangements.

VS: A=**** U:no, not much period, but I looove Easter Thursday, and the Trip to Kilburn music. It is made for dancing, and is an example of what playing dance music is all about.

English Country Dances

Bare Necessities CD: Varrick Records.

Reprint of English Country Dances, 1987.

English Country Dances: From Playford's Dancing Master 1651-1703

Broadside Band CD: Saydisc, CD-SDL 393, 1991.

Instruments: recorders, flageolet, flute, pipe, tabor, harpsichord, violin, viol, hurdy-gurdy, lute, mandore, cittern, dulcimer

Track Listing: 1st edition 1651: Cuckolds all a row, Shepheard's Holyday or Labour in Vaine, Newcastle, The Beggar Boy, Picking of Sticks, Faine I would if I could or Parthenia, Gathering Peascods, The Night-Peece or the shaking of the Sheets; 3rd ed 1657: Chelsey Reach or Buckingham House; 4th ed 1670: Jameko, Epping Forest; 6th edition (supplement) 1679: Well Hall; 7th ed 1686: The Fits come on me now or The Bishop of Chester's Jigg; 7th ed (supp) 1687: Mad Robin; 9th ed 1695: Red-House, Mr. Beveridge's Magot; Part II 1696 (supp to 9th ed) The Geud Man of Ballangigh; To a New Scotch Jig; 11th ed 1701: Childgrove, Woolly and Georgey, Portsmouth, White-Hall Minuett; 12th ed 1703: Bloomsberry Market.

JPD: Another example of Broadside's consistently excellent quality. They use period instruments to create a nice sound, record things at an easily danceable tempo with a clearly defined rhythm, and usually have the right numbers of repeats for all their dances. On this c.d., they have purposely limited the number of repeats of the melody to 3-5, which is fine (and complete) for some of the earlier period things, but you might need to splice recordings together to get a long enough version for the longways for as many as will dances (Well Hall, Childgrove, etc.) Aesthetic Appeal: **** Usability: ***

LH: This disc, unlike most others, was done specifically with dancers in mind and in most cases has the right number of repeats. They also list the selections in order of the Playford edition in which they appeared. There are 8 selections from the 1st edition of 1651. As with all of his other recordings, the instrumentation is really nice -- some of the dances are a little more "courtly" than "country" but the slower tempos are sometimes good to use for beginning dancers. The "liner notes" also give the number of repeats, length of selection and what comprises the introduction. Would we had more of these!

Fifteenth Century Dances from Burgundy & Italy

The Guildhall Waits Cassette: Companie of Dansers, 1981.

This is Madeleine Inglehearn's group. Produced by Companie of Dansers, 1981. (Her dance group). Manual with accompanying cassette tape. Order the book from Rum Blackmore Mgmt; 331 Avenue Road; Witham, Essex. Order the tape from Martin Pope; 48 Belsize Square; London. NW3.

Track Listing: La Spagna; Danse de Cleves; Pizochara; Leoncello; La Spagna (Milano); Pellegrina; L'Alta (de la Torre); Casuelle la Novela; La Spagna; Verzepe; Gelosia; Colonnese; Anello; Filia Guilmin(??); Prexoniera; Mercantia.

DH: A good tape of 15th-century dances, though I'm not keen on some of the arrangements; there are nicer versions of Dance de Cleves, Leoncello and Gelosia available, for a start. The accompanying manual tends to over-choreograph the dances, without justifying this. Pellegrina is fudged to fit Falla con Misuras.

Forse che si forse che no

Ferrara Ensemble CD: Fonti Musicali, fmd 182, 1996.

Reprint of Forse Che Si Forse Che No, 1989.

Forse Che Si Forse Che No

Musique de Danse du Quattrocentro

Ferrara Ensemble CD: Fonti Musicale, fmd 182, 1989.

Instruments: 5-course lute, fiddles, shawm, alto bombard, gothic harp, dulcimer, slide trumpet, pipe and tabor.

Track Listing: Verceppe, Lioncello, Pazienza, Cupido, Pellegrina, Voltati in ca Rosina, J'ay grant dolour, Tessara, Rostiboli gioioso, Anello, Giove, Pinzochera, Lauro, Venus, Fortuna desperata, Alessandresca, Gelosia, Petit Riense, Spero, La figlia di Guielmo.

JPD: Great recording. You may find instances where the music doesn't perfectly match your favorite reconstruction, based on different interpretations of the sources. For example, in Gelosia the music for F figure repeats 5 times. This is based on one interpretation of an obscure symbol in the primary source. This music can be used for five couples, or three if you want to fudge the extra F measures with some embellishment. Dance advisor: Andrea Francalanci. Liner notes include a few translated quotes from primary sources, and a list of the early Italian manuscripts, their locations, and notes on which sources each dance can be found in. Aesthetic Appeal: **** Usability: ****

VS: A - *** some pieces I like a lot, others I find unpleasant. U - *** haven't noticed any problems, but don't use it much ... The bassadanza given for Lauro works (at least, the reconstruction I use - I'm not sure if the Carolingians would like it). At least one of the other BD didn't, no matter how hard I tried to squish the choreography into it -I mean, out by 30% or some such, so I couldn't just add a long reverenza at the end, or repeat the dance.

Greatest Dance Hits of the 1500's

(artist unknown) CD: Quintessence, PMC-750495.

Reprint of Dance Music of the Renaissance, .

Henry VIII and His Six Wives (Movie Soundtrack)

Early Music Consort of London LP: Anglo-EMI.

Track Listing: Basse Dance:Jouyssance vous donneray, Pavan: Le bon vouloir, Galliarde: Traditore, Pastime with good company, Street Music (Troika), Galliarde, Ethiope Masque, Closing Music (Manschaft Pavan).

Hide Park, Grayes Inn Masque, Sedauny or Dargeson, Picking of Sticks

(artist unknown) 45rpm single: Fidula, FON 1250.

MD: These records are just two of a lot of records and books on dancing available from Fidula, Boppard/Rhein and Salzburg, Austria. They have lots of interesting records but beware of Gaillardes from them, because some of them are influenced by Taubert, who had a totally different reconstruction for them, requiring very slow tempi.

Historische Tanze

K.H. Taubert LP: Schott Wergo, 3005.

MD: kind of "historical" records, Karl Heinz Taubert was the first to revive historical dance in Germany. For both records [note also applies to Höfische Tänze] an accompaning book is available fron B. Schott's Söhne, Mainz. The dances are widespread, from bransles to ecossaises. The books (especially to the first record, with the same name, Edition 5947) are interesting because of lots of references to all sorts of dancing. The detailed instructions are partly outdated.

History of Spanish Music, vol. 23

Pro Musica Hispaniarum Cassette: MHS, MHC5103, 1975.

AB: Contains: pavans; galliards, balli; Caroso=Spanish pavan and Galliard; Negri=Lo Spagnoletto, Canario, El Villancico, Austria Felice.

Hit & Misse

Passamezzo Players Cassette: Dancecraft, from CDSS, DC 123324.

Track Listing: Parson's Farewell, Prince Rupert's March, Scotch Cap, Cheerily and Merrily, Bobbing Joe, Sweet Kate, Gathering Peascods, Beggar Boy, Halfe Hannikin, Helston Furry Dance, St. Martin's, Oranges and Lemons, Rufty Tufty, Hit and Misse, Sellenger's Round

JPD: Comes with book of instructions. The music is very "lyrical" sounding, and the notes glide gracefully into each other. Unfortunately, this can make it hard to find the beat and dance easily to the music. Aesthetic appeal: *** Usability: **

AH: Actually, this was easy to dance to, even if the beat is difficult to find. Arrangements are pretty.

Homage to Amor: 16th century Dances of Love from Fabritio Caroso

Les Verres Casses Cassette: Angene Feves, 1987.

Available from Angene Feves, 70 Karol Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. For $12 plus $2.50 P+H. ($5 outside US)

Track Listing: 15 Balli from Il Ballarino and Nobilta di Dame.

LL: Probably my favorite recording. Vibrant, interesting instrumentations. Tempi tend to be brisk rather than stately. Some of the repeat structures and number of playings differ from my own reconstructions, however.

Höfische Tänze

K.H. Taubert LP: Schott Wergo, 3001.

MD: kind of "historical" records, Karl Heinz Taubert was the first to revive historical dance in Germany. For both records [note also applies to Höfische Tänze] an accompaning book is available fron B. Schott's Söhne, Mainz. The dances are widespread, from bransles to ecossaises. The books (especially to the first record, with the same name, Edition 5947) are interesting because of lots of references to all sorts of dancing. The detailed instructions are partly outdated.

Il Ballarino: Italian Dances, c.1600

Broadside Band CD: Hyperion, CDA 66244, 1988.

Instruments: flute, ocarina, recorders, harpsichord, chamber organ, regal, violin, viols, lute, mandora, cittern, chittarrone, guitar

Track Listing: Caroso: Cascarda Allegrezza D'Amore; Negri: La Catena D'Amore; Caroso: Baletto Celeste Giglio; Gardane: Gagliardas Moneghina and La Canella; Lupi /Caroso: Balletto Alta Carretta; Mainerio: Ballo Francese -Tedesca -Schiarazula Marazula - Ungarescha; Negri: Bassa Gioiosa; Negri: La Nizzarda; Valente:Gagliarda Lombarda-Ballo Lombarda-Seconda; Gastoldi:Balletto La Sirena; Caroso: Balletto Forza D'Amore; Picchi: Saltarello del Pass'e Mezo - Ballo Ongaro; Caroso: Balletto Alta Gonzaga; Caroso: Dolce Amoroso Fuoco; Negri: Il Canario; Caroso: Ballo del Fiore

JPD: This CD is commercially available and fairly easy to find. Liner notes include info about where to order a companion book of dance instructions, which was the dance manual for the Dolmetsch Historical Dance Society's Summer School in 1986. (I believe that the music first came out on a DHDS tape, but was later re-recorded for this CD.) Dance researcher was Anne Day. Very pretty, very usable, at least for the dances which I know. Aesthetic appeal: **** Usability: ****

VS: I only use 2 of the pieces on the CD, being Allegrezza d'Amore and Ballo del Fiore. Both work without problems, so I expect the rest probably do. The Il Canario is nice and long (11 minutes!) and at a stately rather than frantic speed. A:**** U:*** (may be more, for those into late dances.)

Istanpitta

Istanpitta CD: Lyrichord, LEMS8016, 1995.

Track Listing: saltarello & trotto; Parlamento; Saltarello; Chominiciamento; La Manfredina; Tre Fontane; Saltarello; Isabela; Lamento di Tristano; In Pro; Saltarello

MH: Has a usable Saltarello - La Regina (for the original choreography by Jeff Singman). Unfortunately, we don't have instructions for the other dances. Possibilities for original choreography?

John Playford 22 Country Dances of the 17th century

Atelier Danse, and Flagel, Lou, and Flagel, Claude LP: Le Chant du Monde/Harmonia Mundi France, LDX 74690.

LH: This is one of my very favorites and I only wish it would come out on CD! This was apparently part of the same series of recordings as the one above produced by the Flagels. The instrumentation is really outstanding and oftentimes unexpected -- according to the liner notes (entirely in French, no translation!) they worked literally side-by-side with dancers to ensure that the recording was for dancers rather than just for listeners. They give a lot of detail about the individual figures of the dances as well as historical information. (Makes a great translation review if your French is as rusty as mine!)

La Cour du Roi Rene: Chansons et Danses

Ensemble Perceval CD: Arion, ARN 68104, 1989.

Track Listing: Dances: Filles a marier; La spagna; Domenico: Ballo Jelosia, Lioncello, Mercantia; Bassa danza Lauro; Guglielmo: Falla con misuras

JPD: Some tracks are quite usable, though details might vary from your reconstruction. Others I have a difficult time matching the steps to (e.g. Mercantia). I find it much easier to dance Lauro to the La Spagna (enough music for 4 times through the dance) than to what they call Bassa danza Lauro. This may just be my own bias based on the particular version of La Spagna I first learned and am most used to. This is a fine CD, but given the choice, I would instead purchase Forse Che or Mesura et Arte. Aesthetic Appeal: *** Usability: **+

VS: Aesth:**** U:*** (stuff there is usable, just not that much of it.)

DH: I disagree with the other reviewers about this disc: I find that there is plenty of usable stuff. We've had no problems with fitting Mercantia and Lauro to the appropriate tracks. Gelosia does have an odd number of repeats (c.f. comments for Forse Che Si Forse No) but only requires minor adjustment to work. Highly recommended, on aesthetic quality if nothing else.

La Musica Italiana del XV Secolo

Sine Nomine CD: Quadrivium, SCA 040.

VS: Has Amoroso, wrong repeat structure, and with an extra bar thrown into the first section. Lively, rather than the usual dirge speed, and quite nice to dance to. Also has La Vida de Colin, the song related to the dance. Otherwise mostly songs, and nothing else for a specific dance. The CD has many pieces in common with La Vida de Colin, another CD by the same group. A:*** U:*

La Spagna: Siglos XV-XVI-XVII

Atrium Musicae de Madrid, and Paniagua, Gregorio CD: Djursholm, Sweden: Grammofon AB, BIS CD-163, 1980.

Instruments: Viol, violoncello, double-bass, hurdy-gurdy, lute, harp, psaltery, dulcimer, harpsichord, spinet, portative organ, recorders, and crumhorns.

Track Listing: Spagna contrapunto / Francesco Canova da Milano (1:55) --Spagnoletta / Michael Praetorius (1:01) -- Danza alta sobre la Spagna / Francisco de la Torre (3:19) -- Historia baetica / Carlos Verardi (1:45) --Calata a la Spagnola I-IV / Joan Ambrosio Dalza (1:33; 1:15; :43; 1:39) --Spaniol Kochesberger / Hans Kotter (4:38) -- Spaniol tancz / Hans van Constanz (3:07) -- The old Spagnoleta (2:12) ; Spagnioletta (2:46) / Giles Farnaby --Triste Espana / Juan dell Encina (1:13) -- Re di Spagna / anonimo (:42) --La bassa castiglya ; Falla con misuras / M. Gulielmus (1:46) -- La Spagna (2 settings) / anonimos (1:41; 1:33) -- Olvida tu perdicion Espana / anonimo (:45) -- Spagnioler tanz ; Hopper dancz Spagna / Hans Weck (3:36) --Spanieler / Hans Kotter (2:15) -- Espagnoletta / anonimo (1:11) --Spagnoletto ; Villanicco di Spagna ; Pavaniglia di Spagna ; Spagnoletto da capo / Cesare Negri (2:19) -- La Spagna a 5 / Josquin des Pres (3:28) --Recercada [1-6] sobre canto llano la Spagna / Diego Ortiz Toledano (1:17; 1:06; 1:53; 1:44; 1:05; 1:09) -- Gagliarda quarta a 5 alla Spagnola / Giovanni Maria Trabaci (2:34) -- The Spaynard / anonimo (:49) --The Spanish pavane / Francis Pilkington (1:55) -- Triste Espana / Juan dell Encina (:39) -- Espagnoletta / Gaspar Sanz (1:05) -- Ricercar Spagnuola duna cossa spagnola / Francesco Canova da Milano (:46) -- Ain spaniyelischer hoff dantz / Hans Judenkonig (1:10) -- Tres sobre el canto llano de la alta (sobre La Spagna) / Antonio de Cabezn (2:22) -- Triste Espana / Juan dell Encina (:54) -- Spagnoletta nuova al modo di madriglia (:43) ; Furioso alla Spagnuola (1:19) / Marco Fabritio Caroso -- Padvana hispanica / anonimo (:48).

IE: "41 versions of the famous melody by more than 20 composers". Detailed instrumentation, sources, and program notes by Dona Maria Candelas Lopez in Spanish, with English, German and Swedish translations ([20] p. : ill.) inserted in container. This is a lovely listen-to album, and some of the tracks are even usable, but not many. Especially disappointing are the Caroso and Negri tracks in this regard, although the whip crack in the Furioso all Spagnuola makes you wonder what the Atrium Musicae knows about Spain that we don't.

JPD: Some of the versions of La Spagna work well for Lauro and for Casulle la Nouvelle. Others do not. Also has Giles Farnaby's Old Spagnoleta which matches the choreography in the Inns of Court mss, Guglielmo's Falla con Misura, Chester's The Spanish Pavan which matches Arbeau's choreography, and [an incomplete?] Caroso's Spagnoletto nuovo. All workable, though not necessarily the best available versions of these pieces. Liner notes list sources of all the music, and instrumentation for each separate version (and the makers of the instruments). Aesthetic Appeal: *** Useability: ** - ***

MW: Specifically, there are three tracks (back to back) which work for these [Lauro, Casuelle...] dances. This is the only use I've had for this disc -- but I've used those three tracks a lot...

VS: Variations on the La Spagna tenor, including Re di Spagna from Cornazano, La bassa Castiglya - Falla con Misuras, 4 pieces from Negri, 2 from Caroso. One of the dances from Caroso -- Furioso alla Spagnuola -- is just an excerpt, so useless for using for the dance. The CD is wonderful for listening, and some pieces (there's one galliard and a pavane) may be usable for improvisation or choreographing to, but I doubt any of the pieces that are meant for a period choreography are usable - they are short, and obviously meant for listening, not historical accuracy. The choice of instruments is also made on the grounds of artistry - there are many period instruments, but I'm not so sure about the whip, bongo, and metallofon... Aesth:**** U:*

La Spagna: Siglos XV-XVI-XVII

Atrium Musicae de Madrid, and Paniagua, Gregorio CD: New York: BIS, BIS CD-163, 1986.

Reprint of La Spagna: Siglos XV-XVI-XVII, 1980.

La Vida de Colin

Sine Nomine CD: Quadrivium.

VS: Has Petit Vriens, nice and lively, but the repeat pattern is wrong ... might be suitable for 2 people. Speeds up. The CD has a number of pieces in common with La Musica Italiana del XV Secolo, by the same group, so buying them both only gives one 1.5 CDs. A:*** U:*

Leoncello, Venus tu m'as pris, Siege of Limerick, Kemps Jigg

Busch, Lenchen 45rpm single: Lenchen Busch.

Lenchen Busch, Vohburger Str. 9, 80687 Munich

MD: A small private recording with instructions available from [the distributor].

Masque Music

(artist unknown) Nonesuch, H-71153.

Track Listing: The King's Mistress, Waters His Love, The Fairy Masque (The source music for the Clifton Court Allemande often known in Ohio as The Cecelia Allemande), Now hath Flora, The Satyres' Masque, The Mountebank's Dance at Grayes Inn, Williams his love, The Goates Masque (The source music for Rashid's Allemande often known in Ohio as The Black Allemande), The Second Witches' Dance, Wilson's love, The Divill's Dance (Source Music for Lady Layton's Measure), The Gypsies Metamorphos'd, Galliarde, Alman: The Squirrel's Toy, While dancing rests, Come ashore, Cuperaree or Grayes Inn, Squier's Masque.

May I Have the Pleasure?

Towne Waytes Society LP: Towne Waytes Society, TWR-771-2.

LH: This was produced by the Towne Waytes, a Canadian group, with a detailed (24-page) booklet of instructions by Angene Feves for all of the dances. There's a lot of detail on how to perform the steps and Ms. Feves has "newly English'd" the 1589 version of Arbeau for this booklet. I'm not sure that this is available any longer - I got my copy directly from Angene Feves some years ago and I believe it was out of print and in extremely short supply even then.

Mesura Et Arte Del Danzare: Balli Italiani Del Quattrocento

Accademia Viscontea I Musicanti CD: Ducale, CDL 002, 1991.

Instruments: shawm, bombards, lutes, harp, vielle, organ, bagpipe, pipe and tabor, harpsichord, viols, mandora.

Track Listing: Leoncello, Marchesana, Anello, Colonenese, Vercepe, Petit Riense, Voltate in ca Rosina, Margaritum, Poi che'l ciel e la Fortuna, Rostiboli Gioioso, Grazioso, La fia Guglielmina, A Florence la joyose cite/Hela la fille guillemin, Gelosia, Mercanzia, Sobria.

DZ: A difficult CD to find, but worth the effort. Danceable and aesthetically pleasing versions of many of Ebreo's and Domenico's balli. (In a couple of cases, the music may not match your favorite reconstruction.)

JPD: Liner notes include a list of early Italian sources, the concordance of which of these dances appear in which sources, instrumentation on each separate track, and notes from the sources about the choreography or style of each dance. Aesthetic Appeal: **** Usability: ****

VS: Poi che'l ciel e la Fortuna and A Florence la joyose cite/Hela la fille guillemin, are the only 2 not for dancing, Margaritum being questionable. The rest are. A:****, U:****

DH: I can only echo the above. It's hard to find, even in Europe (we had to get an Italian friend to 'export' us a copy) but well worth it. The disc to have for 15th-century Italian balli. Easy to dance to and to listen to, though the recording quality is not quite perfect.

Music from the Time of Elizabeth I

The Acadamy of Ancient Music, and Sneak's Noyse, and Hogwood, Christopher CD: Decca Record / L'oiseau-lyre, 433 193-2, 1982.

Instruments: Viols (SATB), lute, cornett, sackbut (ATB), Virginals, rebec, recorder, tambourine, lute, cittern, curtall, and crumhorn.

Track Listing: The old Spagnoletta (works with the version found in the Inns of Court manuscripts); the flat pavan and galliarde; John Bull: The Spanish pavan (works with Arbeau's choreography), Coranto 'Alarm', Coranto 'Battle'; Holborne: Tinternell. Various ballads.

JPD: All of the dances are a little slow and dragging-feeling Aesthetic appeal: *** Usability: **

Music from the Time of Richard III

York Waites CD: Saydisc, CD SDL 364, 1995.

VS: Has Mercantia (doesn't work - only 2 repeats, confusing), Anello, and Amoroso (works). Also Danse de Cleves (works), and La Spagna. Bassa con misurias. Aesth:**** U:** (not too many pieces, and not always clear or workable).

Music in the Age of Leonardo da Vinci

Ensemble Claude Gervaise CD: Musica Viva, MVC 1022, 1993.

Track Listing: Domenico: Giloxia, Pizochara, La fia Guilmin. Ebreo: La Bassa Castiglia, Rostiboli Gioioso.

JPD: This is a very nice-sounding recording. However, there are some problems with it that make it far less useful than some of the other recordings of this repertoire. First, 27 separate "tracks" are really combined into 4 tracks, thus, you have to scan around inside the track to find the exact dance you want (thus losing the advantage of it being on CD, rather than being a tape you have to rewind and fast-forward through). Second, none of the dances I checked matched my reconstruction... (On Pizochara, the bassadanza section seems off, and the Rostiboli has a strange repeat structure: it starts off well on one full repeat of the dance, but then varies. Gelosia has only one repeat.) They could all be fussed with to make them completely workable, but why bother when there're other good recordings. Aesthetic Appeal: **** Usability: **

VS: Rostiboli Gioioso and Pizocara match their dances. I believe La fia Guilmin is usable, but the speeds are on the slow side, especially the last section. Gelosia is only repeated once, and the section where the men weave is slightly different from the usual versions, so it isn't as useful. Also has Vida de Culin and La Bassa Castiglia. The one drawback to the CD is that the 22 pieces have been grouped into four tracks, so one can't find pieces easily. A=****, U=***

Music of the Gothic Period, Renaissance and Early Baroque

Collegium Musicum Aldovadensis CD: PILZ 160261, 1992.

AB: Various stuff, including: Otto valerius' Intrata, Galliard, courante suite; a medley of Volta Cansone and Morisco.

Music of the Renaissance for Lutes, Vihuelas, and Citterns

Robert, Guy, and Robert, Elizabeth Cassette: MHS 6152, 1980.

AB: Contains: pavans; galliards, branles, "Bouffens" and "passamezzo".

Musica del XV secolo in Italia

Ars Italica Tactus, TC 40012201.

VS: Has a lovely, lively Rostiboli, with 20 extra bars thrown in in the middle ... A:**** U:* (There's only the one piece. It can be modified to work.)

Musica Subterranea

Musica Subterranea CD: Musica Subterranea, 1999.

On line URL: http://www.musicasubterranea.dhs.org/

Track Listing: Official Bransle, Earl of Salisbury, Black Nag, Gelosia, Newcastle, Rostiboli Gioioso, Horses Bransle, Rufty Tufty, Petit Riens, Parson's Farewell, Hyde Park, Amoroso, Hearts Ease, Half Hannikin, Anello, Villanicco, Female Sailor, John Tallow's Canon, Hole in the Wall, Amoroso, Scotland the Brave

DE: A useful CD of freely copyable tunes, mostly with the correct arrangements and repeats.

Musicke for Dauncinge

Pugliese, Patri Cassette: Patri Pugliese.

Available from Patri Pugliese, 39 Capen St. Medford, MA 02155. CDSS may also have it.

Track Listing: Quadran Pavan, Turkelone, Earl of Essex, Tinternell, Lorayne Alman, Old Alman, Brounswycke, Queen's, New, Madame Sosilia, Black, Quadran Pavan and Galliarde, Earl of Essex (long), New (long), Madame Sosilia (long), Lorayne and Queen's, Old and Tinternell

JPD: This is the companion tape for the dance manual Practise for Dauncinge, and includes very danceable music for all the alman choreographies contained therein. The music isn't beautiful, but it's perfectly acceptable for use at events, and is very easy for beginners to follow. This is the only comprehensive source for Inns of Court dances; however, several recordings listed here do have one or two of these dances on them. Aesthetic appeal: *** Usability: ****

MW: An SCA production, this is perhaps the only recording available for the Inns of Court almans. Pretty harpsichord music, and fits with Practice for Dancing, Patri's book on the subject.

AB: We bought the book at Pennsic a few years ago, but the tape was not available. Mistress Rosanore let me copy her copy of the tape that she purchased years ago. Someone should inquire about current availability of the tape.

DZ: At the time of this writing, Patri is looking for someone to take over the task of copying this tape on an as-needed basis.

Musiques Danser de la Renaissance Française

Compagnie Maitre Guillaume CD:, 1996.

On the Banks of the Helicon, Early Music of Scotland

Baltimore Consort CD: Dorian, DOR-90139.

VS: Includes Scotch Cap from Playford I (but has 4 repeats, not 3), a 39-second Canary sequence (which runs into the next piece), 2 Pavans, and a Bransles d'Ecosse. A:**** U:**

LH: An overall view of Scottish music, much of it vocal but really great instrumentation and very accessible singing. (Also good if you want to practice your "anglicised Gaelic.") Interesting version of "Scotch Cap" -- might be hard for beginning dancers to catch the beat. Some nice "pavens" and the bagpipe pieces should warm the hearts of the Gaels.

Popular Dances of the Renaissance

Kennedy, Judith, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival Musicians Cassette: Suncrest Sound Studio, 1985.

Track Listing: Bransle Double; Bransle Simple; Peas Bransle; Washerwoman B; Bransle de Villages III; Pavan; Galliard; Allemande; Black Almain; Woodicock; Gathering Peascods; Goddesses.

AB: Side II of the tape has the tunes with voice-over of steps. Very nice for instruction of novices. Unfortuantely, the tape and manual give no information about where to obtain it. I forgot how we ordered it. If you contact the OSF, they can tell you how to get it.

Popular English Country Dances of the 17th and 18th Centuries

Claremont Country Dance Band Cassette: CDSS, CDSS-7, 1979.

Available from CDSS, 17 New South St. Northampton, MA 01060.

Track Listing: Mr. Isaac's Maggot, Hit and Miss, Picking Up Sticks, Scotch Cap, Mr. Beveridge's Maggot, Epping Forest, Mad Robin, Prince William, Dublin Bay, The Female Sayler, Miss Sayer's Allemande, Jack's Health, Queen's Jig.

JPD: Although only 25% of the dances are from first-edition Playford, this tape does contain some non-period stuff that's popular in An Tir: Mr. Isaac's Maggot, and Female Sayler. Aesthetic appeal: **** Usability: ****

Purcell, Playford, and the English Country Dance: Dances from 1685-1728

The Playford Consort CD: Playford Consort Publications, CD 1095, 1995.

From Playford Consort Publications, 100 York St, 15E, New Haven, CT 06510

Instruments: violin, viola de gamba, bassoon, keyboard, voice.

Track Listing: 22 Dances, including Hole in the Wall, Lilliburlero, and Cold and Raw (Juice of Barley).

JPD: This CD includes tunes which were originally written by Henry Purcell as incidental music for plays, then later were adapted as dancemasters composed country dances to fit them. Choreography for these dances appeared in Playford (in the 7th edition and later), Walsh, Bray, and Neal. Companion books include instructions for the dances, and arrangements of the music, as well as some additional information on dances of this period. Well worth getting if you are interested in later English country dances. Note that the music has a Baroque tone to it, which is suitable to the dances included, but not ideal for SCA use. Dance advisor: Christine Helwig. Musical advisor: Marshall Barron. For SCA Use - Aesthetic Appeal: ** Usability: * For Other English Country Dancers - Aesthetic Appeal: **** Usability: ****

Renaissance Brass

Empire Brass Quintet Cassette: SQN, Chrome 79037.

AB: Contains: various almans, pavans, galliards, canzonas

Renaissance Dance Music

London Pro Musica Cassette: Tactus, Tacx145, 1987.

Instruments: Renaissance violin, lute, guitar, theorbo, mandora, viol, cornett, sackbuts, shawm, dulcian, percussion.

Track Listing: Pavana "La Bataglia"; Suite of Gagliarde: Il Burato, Basela un trato, Untitled gagliarda, Zorzi; Pavan "Si je m'en vois"; Gaillarde "Si pour t'aymer"; Basse danse "Jouissance"; Mixed Suite of Branles: Branle double, simple, gay, de Bourgogne; Three Branle Gays; Branle de la Haye; Branle des Chevaux; Branle de la Torche; Branle d'Escosse; Les Bouffons; La Volta; Two Almains; Negri: Leggiadra Marina; Pavaniglia; Caroso: Il Canario; Courante; Negri: Brando "Alta Regina"; Lupi: Ballo del Gran Duca (Alta Carretta).

JPD: This is the companion tape to The Renaissance Dance Book, which includes dance instructions and sheet music for the arrangements performed on the tape. London Pro Musica used a wide variety of period sources for their music, (e.g. Praetorius' Branle Double, d'Estres' Branle gay) which may be confusing to those who are used to only dancing these choreographies to Arbeau's melodies. Dance advisor was Jane Gingell. Aesthetic appeal: *** Usability: **

AT: This tape is accompanied by a dance book and a music book. One side is pavans/bransles and the other is balli.

VS: Asth:**** U: I only use the Il Canario, and find it very usable (especially with the companion book to explain how it works ...). I expect it's ****

LL: Well-produced and thorough. I like the variety of good, danceable pieces. I particularly like the rendition of Leggiadra Marina for the transitions between the tempo changes. La Volta is at a good speed, not too fast.

MH: I really like this tape; it was played to be danced to. The Haye Bransle has the right repetitions of the final section for a three-person Haye. The Horses Bransle doesn't needlessly repeat sections. Some more complete repeats of dances would be nice. I'll give it **** for aesthetics and usability.

DH: I've only danced to the Bransle de la Haye, La Bouffens, and Il Canario, but all were successful. The accompanying book is pretty good. Aesthetically pleasing - I prefer this Il Canario to the Broadside Band version on Il Ballarino.

Renaissance Dance Music 1-4

New York Renaissance Band Arabesque Recordings, 91-720, 1984.

Contents: Part 1 is the same group of dances as Orchesographie (see above), or Washerwomen, War, and Pease (see below). Part 4 is the same group of dances as Country Capers (see above). Parts 2 and 3 have selections from Praetorius' Terpsichore: Suite # 1 in C Major: Passemeze + Galliarde, Spagnoletta, Ballet des Coqs, ballet des bacanales, ballet des Feus, Courant de la Volte, Galliarde; Suite #2 in G Major: Branle double, simple, montirande, gay; La Rosette, Galliarde, B. Gentil; Suite in F Major: Passamezze pour les cornetz; Courante M.M. Wustrow: Courante, Philo, Volte; Suite #4 in G Major: Ballet, B. des Amazones, B. des Anglois, Gavotte, Volte.

Renaissance Dance, volume 1

School for Scoundrels Cassette: School for Scoundrels, 1993.

Track Listing: Sellinger's Round, Goddesses, Gathering Peascods, Black Nag, Newcastle, Dargason, Rufty Tufty, Merry Merry Milkmaids, Stingo/Oyle of Barley, St. Martins.

School for Scoundrels, 9420 Reseda Blvd. #566, Northridge, CA 91324

JPD: Has accompanying booklet of dance instructions, and video which teaches and demonstrates the dances. Dance advisor: Master Giles of Sweetwater. Side A of the cassette has all of the dances at "instructional tempos" and side B is slightly faster "Revel Tempos". Aesthetic Appeal: ** Usability: ****

Return of the Pipers

Philadelphia Renaissance Wind Band.

VS: Has Amoroso, with wrong repeat structure. Also Schiar.Mar. some galliards, Official bransle in a suite. Can't comment on their usability. A:*** U:**

Revels for 1588

Broadside Band Cassette: Dolmetsch Historical Dance Society, 1988.

Available from DHDS for £8 plus £1.25 shipping. Companion book £6.95+£2 shipping.

Instruments: recorders, fife, virginals, regal, violin, viol, hurdy gurdy, cittern, lute, mandora.

Track Listing: Inns of Court: Quarter Braules, The Spanioletta. Negri: Brando detto alta Regina, La Battaglia, Il Torneo Amoroso, Barriera, Pavaniglia, Arbeau: Spanish Pavan, Branle Aridan. Monsieur's Allemaine. IoC: Turcke Loene, Black Alman, The Longe Pavan, Ladye Layton's Measure. Playford, 1651: Row Well ye Mariners, Peppers Black, Mundesse.

JPD: Tape from DHDS Summer School, 1988, which focused on English dance c. 1588 and other dances linked thematically with the Armada (i.e. nautical or Spanish). Nice tape with good versions of lots of the more obscure Inns of Court dances, and some fun Playfords. The instruction book should be used with caution, as some of their assumptions seem a bit questionable to me. (Some of the Inns of Court dances are done with steps from Negri, some from Arbeau, mostly according to the whim of the author. Some almans are done with an unusual alman step, some with coranto steps.) But if you do your own research, this is fine music to dance to! Aesthetic Appeal: *** Usability: ***.5

Robin is to the Greenwood Gone

Odette, Paul Cassette: Elektra, 79123-4, 1987.

Track Listing: Packington's Pound; Grimstock; Greensleeves; pavans; jigs; galliards; Walsingham; Spanish Pavin

Rose & Nefr Dance Tapes

Jararvellir Music Guild Cassette x 2: Rose and Nefr Press.

Available from Rose & Nefr Press, 7307 W. Franklin Ave., St. Louis Park, MN 55426. $20.00 for two tapes and book.

Track Listing: Tape 1: French Renaissance: Carolingian Pavan, Entree Courante, Mannschaft Pavan, Quadran Pavan, Earl of Salisbury Pavan, Basse: Jouyssance vous donnerai, Branles: Suite Haut Barrois, Pinagay, Charlotte, Poitou, Scottish, Maltese, Calontir, Mimed Branles: Washerwomen's, Pease, Clog, Hermits, Horses, Candlestick, Montarde, Official, War, Knock-down-drag-out, Galliarde, Tourdion, La Volta, English Country: All in a Garden White, Black Nag, Dargason, Dull Sir John, Female Sailor, Fine Companion, Gathering Peascods, Glory of the West, Grimstock, Heart's Ease, Hit and Misse, Hole in the Wall, Jenny Pluck Pears, Mayden Lane Tape 2: Merry Merry Milke Maids, Newcastle, New Exchange, Nonesuch, Picking up Sticks, Rufty Tufty, Sellenger's Round, Upon a Summer's Day, Almans: Black Alman, Queen's Alman, Ailis' Alman, Italian Renaissance Dance: Anello, Balletto Contentezza d'Amore, Spagnoletta Regolata, Verceppe, Games: The Cushion Dance or Prinkum Prankum, Miller in the Middle, Dances that Aren't Period: Korobushka, SCA Road to the Isles, Strip the Willow

JPD: These tapes and their companion book serve one purpose wonderfully: if you're trying to get started, and want directions to lots of dances done in the SCA, and music for them all in one package, this is fabulous for you. Unfortunately, I just don't find the music very attractive. It's very danceable to with a beat that's clear even to the rhythmically uninclined; however, some aesthetic appeal got sacrificed in making it so useful. Aesthetic appeal: ** Usability: ****

DZ: When people ask for one source as a starting point for getting period dance started in their locale, the common response is to wince and reluctantly recommend this one.

SCA Dance Musicke

The Companions of St. Cecilia Cassette:.

Accompanies book of "Fidelco's Dance Notes". Can be obtained from Deborah Rochefort, 15 Karen Lane, Shenandoah Jct., WV 25442. $8 for the tape or the book, $15 for both, $1/item shipping. There is a volume II (tape and book) now available at the same prices. Eric Praetzel now has this available via his SCA music pile.

Instruments: Recorders, mandolin, bass viol, penny whistle, percussion, and voices.

Track Listing: Line Dances: Fryar and the Nun, Madame Sosilia Almande, Mannschaft Pavan, Danse de Cleue, Montarde Branle; 3-couple dances: Grimstock, Stingo, Old Mole, Mayden Lane; 4-couple dances: Hyde Park, The Health, Fain I would; Circle Dances: Pease Branle, Maltese Branle, Fickle Ladies, Sellinger's Round; Hearts Ease; 3-couple dances: Chestnut, Confess, Upon a Summer's Day; Line dances: Love and a Bottle, Hole in the Wall.

JPD: Appealing collection of dances done in the SCA, generally very pretty, though a few dances (e.g. Hide Parke) are a little uncomfortably high-pitched. Nice variety of dances. Aesthetic appeal: *** Usability: ****

MH: We use this tape a lot in Castel Rouge. In fact, we just bought it for the Baronial tape box. It is very usable ****, and has a nice variety of music. Recommended, particularly for beginning groups.

Selva Amarosa: Italian Renaissance Dances by Fabritio Caroso

Scaramella Cassette: Classical Recording Service, 1991.

Available from Diana Cruickshank (see DHDS) for £5 plus £1 shipping. Companion book is £7.50, plus £1 shipping.

Instruments: recorders, crumhorns, lutes, renaissance guitar, viols.

Track Listing: Selva Amarosa, Gloria d'Amore / Donna Leggiadra, Bellezze d'Olimpia, Rara Belta, La Gagliarda di Spagna, Bella Gioiosa, Contrapasso Nuovo, Ardente Sole, Ombrosa Valle, Maraviglia d'Amore, Fulgente Stella, Alta Regina, Este Gonzaga, Florido Giglio, Candida Luna, Fedelta.

JPD: A collection of dances from Il Ballarino and Nobilta di Dame. Music arranged by Stewart McCoy. Dance advisor: Diana Cruickshank. Aesthetic Appeal: **** Usability: ***

DH: Reasonable recording of late-16th-century Italian dances. We've only used Bella Gioiosa, Contrapasso Nuovo and Fedelta, but all were very danceable.

Ship of Fools

Renbourne, John Cassette: Folklore Productions, FF90466, 1988.

AB: Contains Maltese Brawle and other "traditional" tunes.

MW: This may or may not be the Renbourne album famous for having a "Bransle Maltese" that is actually Schiarazula -- evidence that our mistakes can have repercussions beyond the SCA...

Shire of the Isles CD

(artist unknown) CD:.

Track Listing: Jouyessance vous Donnerai, Black Allemande, Black Nag, Schiarazula Marazula, Gathering Peascods, Goddesses, Hearts Ease, Jenny Plucks Pears, Saint Martins, Official Bransle, If All the World Were Paper, Picking of Sticks, Rufty Tufty, Sellengers Round, Washerwoman's Bransle, Wherligig, Woodicock.

DE: Not really sure what to make of this one. It's an SCA recording of dubious sound quality and musicianship, and the tunes are played on recorders of less than top quality, but there is a bit of heart in this and the tunes are all of a danceable speed and have the correct number of repeats. Worth having but not the best source of dance tunes unless you see something here that's not available elsewhere. It does have the advantage of being freely copyable.

Silence is Deadly

Waits of Southwark CD: Waits Music, 1995.

Track Listing: Childgrove, Rufty Tufty, Newcastle, Faine I would, Sculley's Reel, Bacca Pipes Jig, Saint Martins, Hide Park, Princess Royal, The Road to Lisdoonvarna, Stingo, Martin Said To His Man, Bella Gioiosa, Jenny Pluck Pears, Gathering Peascods, Lillibulero, The Blarney Pilgrim/Banish Misfortune, Ashford, The Nutting Girl, The Merry Merry Milke Maids, Cuckolds All A Row, Young Collins, The Morning Dew.

DE: An excellent and fun recording to dance to, although not all of the tracks are useful for the SCA. Also, the instrumentation and arrangements are very "rock and roll", and the repeats in Bella Gioiosa are probably not correct (although the jury's still out on that one). I do like the tunes which are 1st edition playford, however.

So ben mi ..., La Fedalta d'Amore, Lo Spagnoletto, La Courtesia Amorosa

(artist unknown) 45rpm single: Fidula, FON 1286.

MD: These records are just two of a lot of records and books on dancing available from Fidula, Boppard/Rhein and Salzburg, Austria. They have lots of interesting records but beware of Gaillardes from them, because some of them are influenced by Taubert, who had a totally different reconstruction for them, requiring very slow tempi.

Sonare et Balare: Dances from 15th c. Italy and France

Bedford Waits Cassette: Dolmetsch Historical Dance Society, 1990.

Available from DHDS for £7 plus £1.25 shipping. Companion book: £5 plus £2 shipping.

Instruments: Recorders, crumhorn, rackett, lute, dulcimer, cornett.

Track Listing: Italian Balli: Anello (Domenico), Belreguardo Novo (D), Laltra fia guielmina (D), Giloxia (D), Gratioso (Guglielmo), Legiadra (G), Pizochara (D), Rostiboli Gioioso (G), Spero (G). Italian Basse danze: Castelana (G), Caterva (G), Corona (D), Damnes (D), Pellegrina (G), Pietosa (G). French bassedanses: La Danse de cleves (Brussels), Lesperance de bourbon (Br./Toulouze), Filles a marier (Br/T), Le petit rouen (Br/T), Rotiboully ioyeulx (Br/T).

JPD: This tape was prepared in conjunction with DHDS' Summer School of 1989. Companion book has dance choreography, but no step descriptions or other info, as it was designed as a reminder for those who had learned the dances at workshops. Most dances are quite nice, and quite usable. Aesthetic Appeal: *** Usability: ***

Songs & Dances from Shakespeare

Braodside Band CD: Saydisc, SDL 409.

LH: While many of the selections are "songs" there are also many dances included (and don't be surprised if many of the songs sound familiar as many of them are also dance tunes). Extensive "liner notes" including lyrics to all the songs. This is good for you theatrical types also as it talks about actual music used in the original productions staged by Shakespeare.

Songs and Dances from the Spanish Renaissance

Camerata Iberia CD:, 1999.

Two and three couple dances from 17th and 18th century England

Step Stately

Barron, Marshall, and Ward, Charles, and Leber, Eric Cassette: Country Dance and Song Society of America, CDS-8, 1980.

Track Listing: Step Stately, Love's Triumph, Miss Sparks's Maggot, The Boatman, Joy After Sorrow, The Splendid Shilling, The Beggar Boy, The Maid in the moon, Come Let's Be Merry I and II, Saint Martin's, Green Sleeves and Yellow Lace, The Corporation, Shepherd's Holiday, St. Margaret's Hill, Heartsease, Chelmsford Assembly.

Instruments: Violin, recorders, harpsichord.

IE: More country dances both "in" and OOP. Much nicer renditions than many, but notably Baroque, if your audience can tell the difference.

Take a dance

Bare Necessities CD: Chicago: Flying Fish, 1991.

Track Listing: Take a Dance, Scotch Morris, Irish Lamentation, Fandango, The wood duck / Fried de Metz Herman, Miss DeJersey's Memorial / Pat Shaw, Nonesuch, St. Margaret's Hill, Knives and Forks, Trip to the Jubilee, Hambleton's Round O.

IE: I've heard this one, but don't own it. The renditions are like on their first album, a little modern, but very danceable and pleasant to listen to. [Commendably...] they give enough reperitions of the tune to actually dance to. Most of these dances are OOP, but what the hell.

Tape of Dance

Various Cassette: The Letter of Dance.

Tape of Dance, Volume 1

Debateable Consort, and Carolingian Jongleurs, and Ellisif Flakkingskvinne, and Robin the Just, and Pandemonium Cassette: The Letter of Dance.

Track Listing: Hole in the Wall, Black Nag, Juice of the Barley, Hyde Park, Black Almayne, Return of Spring, Parson's Farewell, Ballo del Fiore, Falla con Misuras, Saltarello La Regina, a tourdion (Arbeau), Galliarde: L'Ennuy Qui Me Tormente, Galliarde: Mille Ducas, Galliarde IV (Holborne)

DZ: This is the companion tape to the first volume of the Letter of Dance. It is now out of print, and has been superseded by The Tape of Dance, Volume 2 (see below).

MW: Yes, it's immodest, but I do think that we've collectively assembled an awfully useful tape here...

JPD: Instructions for most of the dances appeared in the Letter. Aesthetic appeal ranges widely because several different consorts contributed. Aesthetics: ** - **** Usability: ****

Tape of Dance, Volume 2

Debateable Consort, and Ensemble Rigodon, and Bryn Gwlad Music Guild, and Pandemonium, and Carolingian Jongleurs, and Ellisif Flakkingskvinne, and Robin the Just, and Del von Strassburg Cassette: The Letter of Dance.

Copies available from the Letter of Dance.

Track Listing: Jouyessance vous donneray, Hyde Park, Leggiadria d'Amore, Basse Alenchon, Horses Branle, Heralds in Love, Dargason, Heartsease, another galliarde and tourdion; synthesized recordings of the basse danses La Tantaine, Bayonne, Beaulte, Casulle, La Franchoise, Avignon, Flourentine, Le Rosin, and M'amie; all dances from Tape of Dance Volume 1.

DZ: This is the companion tape for volumes 1 and 2 of the Letter of Dance. It includes the dances from The Tape of Dance, Volume 1 (with duplicates removed and Hole in the Wall shortened) as well as music for the dances covered in Volume 2 of the Letter.

LL: A mix of dances. Nice rendition of Arbeau's tordion. The playing of Black Almain is an excellent alternative to the version on Musicke for Dauncinge...and especially if you like to dance it four times rather than two!

DH: I hesitate to criticise, since the Tape of Dance is an excellent idea, and the ensembles are not professional, but the execution of the pieces is of very variable quality. In most cases I don't think this will interfere with their danceability, but some are aesthetically disappointing (the syntehsised bassedances especially so). Some of the dances may have odd lengths/repeats - Jouyessance most notably.

Tape of Dance, volume 4

Various CD: Bill Street, Jr, 2001.

Track Listing: Cassandra Bransle, Bransle Pinagay, Bransle Charlotte, Bransle Aridan, Clog Bransle, Horses Bransle, Candlestick Bransle, Gavotte, Gay Bransle, Haut Barrois Bransle, Hermits Bransle, Bransle de la Hay, Maltese Bransle, Montarde Bransle, Official Bransle, Poitou Bransle, Scottish Bransle, Belle Qui Pavan/Tourdion, Galliard, Queens Alman, Gelosia, Mercantia, Petit Vriens, Sobria, Verceppe, Bassa Gioiosa, Contentezza d'Amore, Gloria d'Amore, Leggiadria d'Amore, Passo e Mezzo / Dolce Amoroso Fiamma, Nonsuch, Siciliana.

Tarentule - Tarentelle

Saint-Michel de Provence, and Atrium Musicae de Madrid, and Paniagua, Gregorio CD: Harmonia Mundi, HM 40.379, 1977.

Program notes in French by Dr. Don Gregorio Paniagua Rodriguez on container insert.

Track Listing: Anonyme : Antidotum tarantulae ; Chorea ; Primus modus Tarantella, Secundus modus Tarentella, Tertius modus Tarentella -- F. Couperin : Les barricades mysterieuses -- Anonyme : Tarentella Neapoli Tonum Phrygium -- G. Paniagua: D'apr=E1es une basse obst. de Buxtehude -- Anonyme : Ritornello Tarentella Neapoli -- C. Monteverdi : Laetatus sum. Psalmus 121 -- Anonyme : Tarentela ; Tarentella. Alia Clausula ; Tarentelas 1a, 2a, & 3a ; Tarentella. Tono hypodorico -- Gaspar Sanz : La Tarentela -- Anonyme : Scotish gigg ; Tarantela -- S. de Murcia : Tarantelas -- Anonyme : Country dance (Running Footman) -- D. Fern=E2andez de Huete : La Tarantela -- M. Praetorius : Ballet des sorciers -- Joseph Recuero : Tarantela I -- Anon. Apuglia : Tarantela II -- Anonyme Italia : Tarantela III ; Tarantela IV ; Tarantela V ; Tarantela VI -- Anonyme : Nana Andaluza -- G. Paniagua : Taranto D'Almeria.

IE: Interesting record. Lovely arrangements, some are even danceable. This is the source for the music that was recut for Richard Powers' Villanicco, and one of the tracks is used for the Spagnoletto in some areas.

Ten Dances from 16th Century Italy

Guildhall Waits, and Pope, Martin Cassette: Companie of Dansers, 1983.

Book Published by Companie of Dansers, Book and Music Produced by Martin Pope.

Track Listing: Laura Soave (sic); Spagnoletta; Canario; Austria Gonzaga; Il Gratioso; Allegrezza d'Amore; Bianco Fiore; La Biscia Amorosa; La Caccia d'Amore; Barriera Nuova.

LL: Played at a stately pace. I find most of these renditions too slow. I use the Allegrezza d'Amore for teaching before going onto the quicker playings on Il Ballarino and on Homage to Amor.

The English Dancing Master, 1-4.

Orange and Blue, and The Ranchers LP: CDSS, EFDSS PLA 1-4, 1976-81.

JPD: Aesthetic appeal: *** Usability: **** This whole series was produced by the English Folk Dance and Song Society for use at dance events, similar to our own purposes. It's all good tempo, and quite danceable to. A little modern sounding for SCA use, but not excessively so.

LH: These four volumes (still available but only on all LP) are the "basic Playford" teaching records put out by the EFDSS based on Sharp's transcriptions of the dances. I don't particularly care for their instrumentation (I'm not partial to concertina/accordion) and some of the tempos are not what we're used to in California, but L&U and a lot of other country dance groups have relied on them when we couldn't find dance music for a particular dance with the right number of repeats anywhere else (54 different dances on 4 records -- not all are from Playford's 1st edition). Remember that they are more concerned with community dancing than with "period" and their instrumentation reflects this. You can liken this to square dancing for the British.

The English Dancing Master, 1

Orange and Blue LP: CDSS, EFDSS PLA 1, 1976.

Track Listing: Gathering Peascods, Hey Boys, up go we, My Lady Cullen, Grimstock, Mage on a Cree, Adson's Saraband, 29th of May, Jenny Pluck Pears, Parson's Farewell, Upon a Summers Day, Dargason, Chestnut, Amarillis, Old Mole.

The English Dancing Master, 2

Orange and Blue LP: CDSS, EFDSS PLA 2, 1977.

Track Listing: Althea, Friar and the Nun, Fain I would, Maid's Morris, Confess, Argeers, Lull me beyond thee, Maiden Lane, Merry Merry Milkmaid, Broom the bonny bonny Broom, Spring Garden, The Pheonix.

The English Dancing Master, 3

The Ranchers LP: CDSS, EFDSS PLA 3, 1980.

Track Listing: Sellenger's Round, My Lady Winwood's Maggot (1728), The Boatman, Whirligig (tune: Woodicock), Heartsease, The Health, Mock Hobby Horse (1698), Picking of Sticks, Mr. Isaac's Maggot (1695), Hit and Miss, Juice of Barley (1690), King of Poland (1698), Orleans Baffled (1728)

The English Dancing Master, 4

Orange and Blue LP: CDSS, EFDSS PLA 4, 1981.

The Lady and the Unicorn

Renbourne, John CD: Shanachie, 97022.

Track Listing: Trotto; Saltarell; Lamento di Tristan; La Rotta; Veri Floris; Triple Ballade; Bransle Gay; Bransle de Bourgogne; Alman; Melancholy Galliard; Sarabande; The Lady and the Unicorn; Medley; Westron Wynde; Scarborough Fair.

AB: I believe the "Alman" on the recording is the well-known Earl of Salisbury Pavan music. The CD comes with sheet music in the program notes for all the tunes.

Tielman Susato: Dansereye 1551

New London Consort CD: L'Oiseau-Lyre., 436131-2, 1993.

AB: Phillip Pickett stuff. Includes: sutie of 4 bransles; basse dance "mon desir;" 7 allemandes; 2 pavans; 8 galliards; Moresca.

DH: Never used it for dancing to, so I've no idea of its suitability. Typical New London Consort 'big band' sound. Pavanne La Battaille also features on Trionfi! by the same ensemble.

To Celebrate a Prince: Dance in the Time of Lorenzo de Medici

(artist unknown) Cassette: Dolmetsch Historical Dance Society, 1992.

Available from DHDS for £9 plus £1.25 shipping. Companion book is £6 plus £2 shipping.

Track Listing: Petit Rose, Verceppe, Prexonera, La Ingrata, Leoncello Vecchio and Novo, Colonese, Ducheso, Fiore de Vertu, Principessa, Tesara, Cupido, Mignotta Vechia & Nova, Marchexana, Gratioso.

To Drive the Cold Winter Away

St. George's Canzona Cassette: MHS, MHC9432K, 1986.

AB: Contains: official branle; pavans; Staines Morris; Fandango; Green Garters; Satarelli; galliards; various Praetorius stuff.

Un Bal Chez Rabelais

(artist unknown) LP: Harmonia Mundi, HM 931.

MR: All dances, mostly pavans, galliardes, bransles and rondes from Gervaise, Phalese, etc. Liner notes include a list of some dances mentioned by Rabelais, general instructions for dancing a pavan, galliarde and common bassedanse a la Arbeau.

Un bal Renaissance

La Maurache et Melusine LP: Unidisc, UD301419.

MD: my favourite LP, consists of bransles and allemandes, also nice to just hear, but thought to be danced. (Includes a little bit of instructions on the inside cover.)

Viva Rey Fernando, Renaissance music from the Neopolitan Court 1442-1556

Hesperion XX, and Savall, Jordi CD:.

VS: Two of the pieces listed are: Figlie Guilielmin (basse danse) from Cornazano, and Collinetto (ballo) from Guglielmo Ebreo da Pesaro. Figlie Guilelmina is a ballo, while Colinetto is a bassadanza and is only in Cornazano, so right off, they obviously have muddled stuff. The first piece may be a bassedanze - it wasn't recognizable, but I'm not into them. It may very well be Collinetto. The second is neither Colinnetto, nor Figlie Guilelmina, but is Vida de Culin. There's also Il Re de Spagna, bassa and alta danza, from de la Torre. A:*** U:*

Washerwomen, War, and Pease

New York Renaissance Band LP: Arabesque Recordings, NB 7514, 1989.

Reprint of Arbeau: Orchésographie, 1984.

Where Beauty Moves and Wit Delights

The New World Renaissance Band CD: Nightwatch, NW1002, 1993.

JPD: Daphne, Staines Morris, Goddesses. Other non-dance stuff. Daphne could work for Hit and Misse (even has a 12-count hey), but too many repeats, and vocals that might throw off dancers. Goddesses only has 6 repeats (needs 11): a little slow, but it's one of the few existing recordings for this dance. Staines Morris has only three full repeats of the music. Would need to be spliced. Liner notes do not contain info on instrumentation. Aesthetic Appeal: *** Usability: **