Many bands play Renaissance music with such reverence that listeners forget that it was originally written with revelry and carousing in mind. The group Calliope (named after a goddess, not a steam-powered musical instrument) is an ensemble who makes this music sound like fun, both for listening and dancing. The pieces collected on
Calliope Dances: A Renaissance Revel are all high-spirited and lively, with enough beats for dancing and enough instrumental variation to make for pleasant listening. To a modern ear the minor key melodies and energetic percussion sound almost Middle Eastern, but there are hints of more modern folk music and classical roots within this music. This recording is an excellent introduction to Renaissance music, and the booklet enclosed with the CD contains copious and useful notes about the selections. ~ Richard Foss