Sting - Songs from the Labyrinth (2006)

StingΓΓé¼Γäós Songs From The Labyrinth is an album of 17th century music composed by John Dowland and performed on the lute, an ancient acoustic guitar. After being given a lute nearly two years ago as a gift, Sting became fascinated and immersed himself with the instrument and the history of lute music. Reminded of his almost 25 year long enthrallment with the works of John Dowland, the Elizabethan composer who wrote songs for the lute, Sting has recorded a new album of vocal and lute music. All songs were composed by Dowland in the 17th century, but have been given new life in these fresh new recordings by Sting. Sting not only sings all the songs (accompanied by leading lutenist Edin Karamasov, who appears on two Andreas Scholl albums), but also plays lute on two instrumental duets with Edin and reads short extracts from a fascinating autobiographical letter by Dowland. Sting has also written a brilliant account of the album's genesis, along with notes on the individual tracks, which serves as the CD booklet, should you choose to purchase this album.

**************************************

All 23 MP3 tracks are here, at 320 kbps CBR. This was previously uploaded by marcco (thanks, marcco!), but I edited all of the track names and created a m3u playlist file and added the album art. My first upload. Hopefully I got it right.

**************************************

1. Walsingham 0:38 [instrumental]
2. Can she excuse my wrongs 2:35
3. Ryght honorable... 0:40 [letter to Sir Robert Cecil]
4. Flow my tears (Lachrimae) 4:42
5. Have you seen the bright lily grow 2:35
6. ...Then in time passing on... 0:32 [continuation of letter]
7. The Battle Galliard 3:01
8. The lowest trees have tops [lyrics by Sir Edward Dyer] 2:16
9. ...And accordinge as I desired ther cam a letter... 0:55
10. Fine knacks for ladies 1:50
11. ...From thenc I went to Landgrave of Hessen... 0:24
12. Fantasy 2:42
13. Come, heavy sleep 3:46
14. Forlorn Hope Fancy 3:08
15. And from thence I had great desire to see Italy... 0:28
16. Come again 2:56
17. Wilt thou unkind thus reave me 2:40
18. ...After my departure I caled to mynde... 0:29
19. Weep you no more, sad fountains 2:38
20. My Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home 1:34
21. Clear or cloudy 2:47
22. ...men say that the Kinge of Spain 1:01
23. In darkness let me dwell 4:10