Review of "The Winter It Is Past" By Jim Lowe, Arts Editor for the Times Argus
New Fyre and Lightning Recording Finds Traditional Music's Roots In Renaissance

"Fyre and Lightning Consort's new recording does much to illustrate the bridge between music of the Renaissance and what we now call "traditional" music, but more importantly, it is simply a delight to listen to.

'The Winter It Is Past,' available on CD and cassette, is a thoroughly enjoyable album of Renaissance and traditional instrumental and vocal music of England, Ireland and Scotland, the third by the Plainfield based ensemble. The 'period' style instrumental work, in particular, is outstanding for its warmth, clarity and rhythmic vitality, although there is some quite memorable singing too.

The Fyre and Lightning Consort, founded in 1974, is an ensemble of five musicians dedicated to the study and performance of Medieval and Renaissance music. Increasingly, they have taken an interest in the performance of new music written particularly for them (most notably by member Dennis Murphy), music of the Sefardic Jews, and as amply illustrated on this album, traditional music of the British Isles.

What is almost immediately noticeable is the direct relationship between the traditional folk music that has come down through the ages and the more sophisticated music of the Renaissance masters. The composers clearly have taken folk music of their era, most notably dances, formalizing the structure, and adding harmonic and rhythmic sophistication.

The Renaissance is epitomized in the sophisticated song, 'Flow My Tears,' by Englishman John Dowland (1562-1626), a small masterpiece. But the folk roots are more evident in the music of fellow Englishman John Playford (1623-1686), who actually created a source book of folk music of the day, 'The English Dancing Master,' in 1650. Playford is represented by three selections on the album, all of them instrumental dances. Most were arranged by member Steven Light, and all are played with real vitality.

Representing Ireland is harper and composer Turlough Carolan (1670-1738), who was blinded by smallpox when he was 18 and began his career as an itinerant musician at 21. He wrote tunes to honor his hosts, refined instrumental versions of folk music, three of which are performed here, charmingly and joyfully.

Besides the more sophisticated composed works, there are some wonderful traditional selections, handed down through time. Most familiar might be the melody in the Scottish song, 'The Cows Have Come Home.' Most haunting, particularly in this recording, is the Irish 'Garten Mother's Lullaby.' Also of interest are the various bagpipe melodies.

Summing it all up is 'The Winter It Is Past,' which Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796) set to a popular folk melody.

Members of The Fyre and Lightning Consort are Ellen Hayes (vielle, recorder, whistle, vocals), Bruce Chalmer (vielle, recorder, percussion, vocals), Steven Light (lute, recorder, krummhorn, bagpipes, string bass), Kathy Munson Light (harp, psaltery, recorder, cornemuse, vocals), and Dennis Murphy (flute, whistle, recorder, bassoon, bass viol, string bass, percussion, vocals).

'The Winter It Is Past' was digitally recorded in December 1994 at Vermont College's College Hall Chapel in Montpelier, edited and mastered by Geoff Brumbaugh of Common Ground Audio in Montpelier."

 

Review of "Arvolera, Music of the Sefardic Jews"
From "Andy Recommends" Andy's Front Hall Records

"We recommended Fyre and Lightning's first release in our last catalogue and are happy to announce this second release from this diverse early music ensemble. This time out they've given us an album of Sefardic songs and tunes. The music of the Sefardic Jews, itself coming from a very ancient culture, also reflects the multitude of cultures with which the Sefardim came into contact before, during and after their migration across the Mediterranean from Spain in the late Middle Ages. The Fyre and Lightning Consort presents this fascinating music on a variety of early instruments, and with a musicality that is sometimes lacking in other interpretations. Absolutely beautiful, first to last."

 

Review of "Fyre and Lighting From Heaven Fall"
From "Andy Recommends" Andy's Front Hall Records

"Steven Light, Kathy Munson Light, Ellie Hayes and Dennis Murphy are four Vermont musicians who when not performing with the Nisht Geferlach Klezmer Band (Vermont's one and only), play early music on early instruments as the Fyre and Lightning Consort. The term 'early music' is really a blanket term - they describe their repertoire as 'Medieval, Renaissance, Sefardic and traditional,' along with the occasional contemporary piece for period instruments (in this case recorders, lute, viola da gamba, cornemuse, krummhorn, vielle and the occasional gaita thrown in for good measure). The first half of side one are wonderful new compositions by band member Dennis Murphy (including the wonderfully off-kilter tune Idiocy). These are followed by a couple of O'Carolan tunes. Side two is predominantly Renaissance dance music of western Europe and also finishes with a couple of Irish tunes. Nice arrangements, beautifully played. Vermont is lucky to have musicians as talented and diverse as these."