Songs of Myself,Andreas Scholl (counter tenor, baritone), Shield of Harmony Harmonia Mundi HMC 902051 *****
The one-eyed poet and musician Oswald von Wolkenstein (circa 1376-1445) is a musical enigma.
His autobiographical songs document a character who preferred the adventures of travelling to family life and “the noise of small children,” which depressed him.
The songs are mostly set to melodies written by others, and the narrative content comes across as more important than the music. But these performances by counter tenor Andreas Scholl (who also daringly steps forward as a baritone) with the ensemble Shield of Harmony (whose Cork-born soprano, Kathleen Dineen, shares some of the vocal honours) frequently infuse the music with an attractive, reflective melancholy.
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