Ravenscroft: The Three Ravens | Molly Netter, soprano, the Voice of the Viol 8K

The traditional ballad, "There were three ravens," Molly Netter, soprano, accompanied by the Voice of the Viol viola da gamba consort.
Wendy Gillespie, Elisabeth Reed & Farley Pearce, Elizabethan viols, left to right; David Tayler, renaissance lute.
The Voice of the Viol is a program of Voices of Music, directed by Elisabeth Reed.
A song in the form of a story, the "Three Ravens" was arranged and published by Thomas Ravenscroft in 1611. The song featured prominently in the Early Music revival of the 1950s with recordings by Alfred Deller and Richard Dyer-Bennet, among many others. The text shows some similarities to "Twa Corbies."
Text
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down a down hey down hey down.
They were as black as they might be,
With a down.
Then one of them said to his mate:
“Where shall we our breakfast take?”
With a down derry derry derry down down.
Down in yonder greenfield,
Down a down hey down hey down.
There lies a knight slain under his shield;
With a down.
His hounds they lie down at his feet,
So well they their master keep.
With a down derry derry derry down down.
His hawks they fly so eagerly,
Down a down hey down hey down.
There is no fowl dare him come nigh
With a down.
Down there comes a fallow doe,
As great with young as she might go.
With a down derry derry derry down down.
She lift up his bloody head,
Down a down hey down hey down.
And kissed his wounds that were so red.
With a down.
She got him up upon her back
And carried him to earthen lake.
With a down derry derry derry down down.
She buried him before the prime,
Down a down hey down hey down.
She was dead herself ere evensong time.
With a down.
God send every gentleman
Such hawks, such hounds and such a leman.
With a down derry derry derry down down.
Elizabethan viols
Voices of Music is developing programs for two consorts of viols, one from the Elizabethan period (in this video) and also an early renaissance consort from around the year 1500 to perform works published by Petrucci, the first music publisher, and his contemporaries.
The late renaissance Elizabethan viols are primarily based on the work of John Rose, who was famous by the 1550s for his “vyalls” and other instruments. Although these instruments were from the middle of the century, only the later instruments survive, and it is not known if Rose’s style changed over the years, so these instruments either reflect the practice as early as the 1550s or, more likely, as late as the 1590s, although the changes may have been minor over the years. Notably, the design of the Amati violins from roughly the same time period changed very little. The Rose workshop parallels Elizabeth’s reign as queen, and so these instruments are an excellent choice for this repertory. The English court imported a great many Italian instruments beginning with the reign of Henry VIII, but the Rose instruments were considered preeminent for the viols, even as the lutes and recorders were mainly sourced from Italy and Germany.
For the renaissance ideal, the consort was conceived of as a matched set, and all the instruments played tonight were made by one builder, Wesley Brandt, using similar patterns, techniques and timbers based closely on historical models. The close matching gives the ensemble a unique sound and is essential for consort music.
Another major difference to the baroque instruments is the strings: wire-wound strings emerged circa 1660 and were unknown to the musicians of the renaissance and early 17th century. Without the “overspun” strings the sound of the instrument and its overtones are markedly different, especially in terms of greater transparency, and this enables each individual part in the early English viols to be heard clearly. Importantly, with wire wound strings, bowed instruments are louder in the bass register, but unwound strings have the opposite, softer sound. In addition, there is no register change as the player crosses strings with the bow: all the strings are the same. Lastly, the early English viols had soundboards that were made of very thin, parallel strips of wood that were heated and bent under tension, so they are similar to a drum: this process of tempering and tensioning the soundboard changes the harmonics of the viol.
Entrenched in a multitude of styles from an early age, Canadian-American soprano Molly Netter enlivens complex and beautiful music both old and new. Noted for her “natural warmth” (LA Times) and “clear, beautiful tone” (NY Times), Molly’s voice can be heard on five Grammy nominated albums since 2017.
#ravens
8K Video: Lloyd Hryciw and Rob Clevenger
Post Production: David Tayler and Andrew Levy
Special thanks to Margaret Cohen.
Link to Wikipedia article on the text: en.wikipedia.o...

[@martinfalls6614]

I live in the countryside of Maryland, USA. I'm a wildlife advocate and Early Music listener and sometime performer. Yesterday, a young doe died in my driveway. The vultures came. So did the police after I called Animal Control. She may have been one of three does visiting my property this summer, a mother of two young fawns. She was carried from my driveway into a park across the road. I'm told Animal Control will collect her soon to take her to "earthen lake." We have much roadkill here, including deer, and the role reversal in the lyrics of this song struck me deeply. Saw three vultures in my front yard this morning--three again--and was compelled to find this. Best rendition I've ever heard. Achingly beautiful. Tears. Many thanks to Molly, all players, Elisabeth. Thanks also for the lyrics and deep background info here. Well met! Subscribed. I am yours. - Leman

[@richardforshaw8479]

Perfect timbre for this era! 😊

[@danabnormal5988]

Pre-dawn, Sunday morning, about to leave for work. Thanks for helping the day start well.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Enjoy!

[@128titanic]

Hi, all musicians in the Voice of music! Thank you for your video, and classical music. Welcome.🎉.❤.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thanks for listening!

[@kristenrosales2919]

Excellent performance!!!!

[@sacredkinetics.lns.8352]

Heavenly voice Instrumentally perfect Wonderful story. 🌷🌺🌹

[@jamf-r8719]

Heart-breakingly beautiful! Thank you, Ms. Netter and VoM!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Our pleasure!

[@erichodge567]

Molly Netter has as perfect a voice for this repertoire as can be imagined.

[@audiobiblioteka-1124]

What an exquisite vocal👏 Heavenly I say! Just heavenly❤️‍🔥 Благодарност. Честитки.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Ви благодарам многу

[@neilcochran7719]

As usual for Voices of Music - excellent video and audio and venue. Bravo!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Many thanks!

[@ilbiancofiore]

What a magical way to start the day! Thank you all for your excellences.

[@VoicesofMusic]

You are very welcome

[@claracruz7986]

This should be in spotify, I would listen everyday! Very beautiful, ethereal and fun, thank you! Also, story-songs like this should be the next trend, its just perfect 🙌

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thanks for listening

[@paulchapman112]

such a masterful rendition. Perfect. Thanks.

[@monk9612]

Simplesmente virtuosa a soprano magnífica apresentação ,! ( Um grande abraço também a Califórnia!!! )

[@PoeticMusicRSG]

¡Me encanta esta música! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Nací en la época equivocada. ¡Excelente trabajo!!! 👍🏻

[@zalkaz]

Mesmerizing and angelic

[@VoicesofMusic]

:)

[@giorgiolamborghini813]

It is interesting to observe how a song depending on the approach, that is, in a cultured music context, as in this case or in a folk context, how it can differ, seeming to be two very different things. I think both are important and one does not exclude the other. I must say, though, that this performance is unparalleled!

[@peternaryd_operasinger]

Absolutely amazing!🤗👍👏👏👏❤️

[@DC-id2ih]

Wonderful performance! I think the first time I heard this ballad was some 20yrs ago while watching Simon Schama's documentary "A History of Britain".

[@MrGlbert1999]

Wow how beautiful this is love it!!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you so much!

[@d.o.7784]

It should not be allowed for music to be so soft and heavenly

[@Tarraco]

Preciosa versió.

[@veve3948]

Magnifique !!!!! merci

[@clintvanderlinde6405]

sooooo beautiful...

[@monk9612]

Belíssima apresentação desta ótima soprano. Venho também acompanhando as apresentações do quarteto que a acompanhou , além de fã sou também grande admirador do grupo ..

[@VoicesofMusic]

Obrigado e saudações da Califórnia

[@Pantagruel_2]

Божественно!!!

[@pex008]

Absolyte beautifull

[@bradleycooper3730]

Los amo a todos ustedes😍

[@alessandromog5208]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@juarezmazzucajunior9529]

Maravilha Maravilha

[@user-rs6qt8zu1s]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@antoninopirrone2541]

👏👏👏👏👏🌺💐❤️❤️💕

[@richardforshaw8479]

Perfect diction!

[@VoicesofMusic]

:)

[@neu4791]

👏

[@chrissix5399]

So I'm reading Lord of the Rings, and I know this obviously isn't in Elvish, but it reminds me of what old poems and tales like Elves would have made in English instead. Or, like Chauncer would have heard if his poems were sang.

[@eshaneogy]

Lovely! Isn't that Wendy Gillespie? She's not in the list of viols in the description under the video.

[@VoicesofMusic]

Thank you, fixed description.

[@miguelramonmonzongonzalez965]

🙋‍♂🎼🎶🎵💖👍👌

[@Naeddyr]

I was familiar with Twa Corbies, but not this!

[@VoicesofMusic]

Similar, yet different....hard to say how they are related.

[@VoicesofMusic]

The language of Twa Corbies seems later, but it may derive from an earlier version. Like many of these ballads, every singer had their own version.

[@replyhere590]

Childe Ballad, universal!

[@user-dr6vt9yh4p]

Слушаю эти шедевры и удивляюсь! Удивляюсь!!!.. Как!!!... Как Европа потеряла своё искусство прогнувшись под тупую американскую попсятину..???... Где новые шедевры итальянской эстрады???.... Где новые Джо де саны???... Где новые Авва???...