John Jenkins - Late Chamber Music The Spirit of Gambo

• John Jenkins (1592 - 1678):
• 1 Fantasia in B Flat 03:54
• Fantasia - Suite in D:
• 2 Fantasia - Suite in D - Fantasia 06:38
• 3 Fantasia - Suite in D - Almain 02:43
• 4 Fantasia - Suite in D - Courant 01:49
• John Jenkins:
• 5 Air & Divisions in d (VdGS No. 63) 05:01
• 6 Pavan in C 04:04
• Fantasia-Suite in e:
• 7 Fantasia-Suite in e - Fantasia 05:56
• 8 Fantasia-Suite in e - Almain 03:54
• 9 Fantasia-Suite in e - Courant 02:16
• John Jenkins:
• 10 Divisions on a Ground in A 04:45
• Fantasia-Suite in F:
• 11 Fantasia-Suite in F - Fantasia 05:31
• 12 Fantasia-Suite in F - Alamain 03:10
• 13 Fantasia-Suite in F - Courant 01:54
• John Jenkins:
• 14 Almain in G 01:27
• 15 Coranto in G 01:05
• 16 Air & Divisions in d (VdGS No. 37) 04:03
• 17 Pavan in E 07:09
• Total Runtime 01:05:19

Info for John Jenkins - Late Chamber Music

The chamber music on this recording was likely composed during the time Jenkins was living in the homes of the Dereham and L’Estrange families. Where Lawes 'music is often edgy and bizarre in character, Jenkins' compositions from this period are clearly intended to counterbalance the uncertain and risky circumstances that prevailed during the turbulent years of the Civil War. It's not for nothing that Andrew Ashbee, the great English Jenkins connoisseur, titled his book “The Harmonious Musick of John Jenkins”.

These chamber music do have a really lyrical, balanced and comforting character. They will undoubtedly have had a calming effect on both the players and the listeners. What particularly characterizes many of these dance pieces are the high demands placed on the technical level of the players. Besides Jenkins himself, who was of course known as a virtuoso of various instruments, the other players must have been very advanced amateurs. We don't know which members of the host families had reached such a high level, but it is clear that rehearsing and performing many of these pieces must have been extremely labor-intensive. However, according to Roger North's description, that was exactly what was good: it kept people off the street and protected them from the mischief beyond their front door.

The Spirit of Gambo

The Spirit of Gambo
The power of The Spirit of Gambo, according to the critics, is the sheer pleasure we take in playing together, our drive and our excellent musicianship.

Our repertoire includes music by Dowland, Purcell, Bach and many others. What enables us to move audiences is the combination of the emotional charge inherent in the music and the intimacy between us during our performances. The Spirit of Gambo has set the new standard in consort music performance.

The ensemble was founded by Freek Borstlap and Gesina Liedmeier. Ivanka Neeleman and Thomas Baeté are the other two players making up the core ensemble.

The Spirit of Gambo plays on beautiful instruments built especially for the ensemble by Gesina Liedmeier. The painted decorations and carved animal heads on the instruments make them a delight for the eye as well as the ear.

Their CD ‘Jenkins consort music of four parts’ received the highest distinction: a Diapason d’ Or award. The group plays frequently at international festivals and they have recorded several CDs, including ‘The Silver Swan’ with soprano Claron McFadden and a CD of instrumental music by Christopher Tye.

Booklet for John Jenkins - Late Chamber Music