“They are animated, chaste and simple in their style and expression, and though 'old and plain,' and more remarkable for spirit and originality than for elegance, it may be said of them, as of the poetical relics of ancient minstrelsy. With rough majestic force they move the heart and strength and nature make amends for art.”

Thus wrote William Dauney in 1838 about the music found in the Skene Mandora Book (c.1625). His words could just as aptly describe all the music contained in this recording.

—Ronn McFarlane 

Track List

I. The Jane Pickeringe Lute Book (c.1616)
1. drawe neare me and lowe me
2. A Scots Tune
3. the scottish Huntsupe

II. The Lute Book of Gordon of Straloch (1580-1661) 
4. I long for the wedding
5. I long for thy virginitie
6. The canaries
7. Canaries

III. The Mandora Book of John Skene of Hallyards (?-1644) 
8. I mett her in the medowe
9. Lett never crueltie dishonour bewtie
10. Jennet drinks no water

IV. The Lute Book of Sir William Mure of Rowallen (1596-1657) 
11. A Scots Tune
12. Corne Yards
13. Gypsies Lilt
14. A Scots Tune
15. A Scots Tune

V. The Skene Mandora Book 
16. Alace I lie me alon I'm lik to die awld
17. The Flowres of the Forrest
18. Remember me at eveninge
19. I will not goe to my bed till I suld die

VI. The Starloch Lute Book
20. Port Rorie Dall
21. Lilt Ladie An Gordonn
22. Gallua Tom
23. Whip my toudie
24. Hench me Malie Gray
25. Wo betyd thy wearie bodie

VII. The Skene Mandora Book 
26. Lesleis Lilt
27. Pitt on your shirt on Monday
28. Blew Breik
29. My Ladie Laudians Lilt
30. To dance about the Baikeis dubb
31. My mistres blush is bonie

VIII. The Straloch Lute Book 
32. A Scots Tune
33. Its a wonder to see
34. Port Preist
35. An thou wer myn own thing
36. Port Jean Linsey

IX. The Rowallen Lute Book 
37. Gabot
38. Untitled
39. Curent
40. Volt

X. The Skene Mandora Book 
41. Doun in yon banke
42. Aderneis Lilt
43. Ladie Cassilles Lilt
44. I serve a worthie ladie

XI. The Rowallen Lute Book 
45. Ane Scottis dance
46. Swit Sant nikcola
47. Untitled
48. Untitled

XII. The Straloch Lute Book 
49. A Port
50. Gray Steel
51. Put on thy sark on Munday
52. The old man
53. A Port
54. Ladie Laudians Lilt
55. I kist her while she blusht

XIII. The Skene Mandora Book
56. Adew Dundie

* 8-course lute by Andrew Rutherford, New York, 1986
+ 8-course lute by David B. Brown, Baltimore, 1981
# 5-course mandora by Robert Mavrinac, Windsor, Ontario, 1983

Total time: 69:33
Release date: September 2, 1992
UPC: 053479012920

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