Matthew Reid Courtyards and Fairgrounds, (self release, 2009)
Now for something completely different!
I sometimes wonder who buys a medieval music. However, this CD is very good and interesting, if you listen to it carefully.
Courtyards and Fairgrounds is a collection of Matthew Reid’s compositions evoking the sound of the Medieval and Renaissance eras. The pieces were created using a mix of traditional and modern compositional methods. I am not sure how, but it is my guess they are played on a synthesizer/keyboard.
There are 19 tracks on the CD I received with little to no information or song notes. I played the CD several times as background music at party and when friends come round for dinner. Several commented, "It sounds like music from the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves."
I think, that’s a good description. However, after a bit of research, I found out, and I quote:
Many of the pieces were originally composed for plays of the Renaissance and Medieval eras, including Shakespeare's Othello and All's Well That Ends Well, Kyd's Spanish Tragedy and the anonymous Coventry Play. Others were created as academic exercises in Medieval and Renaissance composition.
To sum up, not the sort of CD I would want to hear every day, but it is very peaceful if you’re having a quite moment. Or if you are film producer and / or you are looking for some background music for one of Shakespeare's plays or something similar, well look no further.
You can learn more about Mathew Reid and download tracks from the CD here.
