Lute News no. 88 (December 2008)

This CD takes its title from one of the anonymous pieces it contains and as the programme notes point out, both the reason for the title, and which Gautier is being referred to as 'old', are open to speculation. On rather firmer (representational) ground the disc also includes Thomas Mace's setting of 'an Excellent Old Lesson, known by the Name of the Nightingal included with pieces from the lst sett of lessons from Musick's Monument. Of the other composers represented, René Mesangeau and Pierre Gautier take the lion's share (and rightly so) with two suites by the former and one by the latter plus a couple of individual pieces. Both stand out as composers of the highest order and is surely only the fact that most of their pieces survive in other than vieux ton or D-minor tunings that has resulted in their being so little played nowadays. It goes without saying that the performances are impeccable and as opportunities to hear music in what are now the more obscure tunings for the lute are few and far between (two different tunings are included here) this one should certainly be grasped with both hands.

Peter Lay