Recordings
The following is a list of recordings that feature the Renaissance cittern, bandora, and/or orpharion. While references to albums that use these instruments in consort are included, the listing of individual tracks of an album is meant to indicate a prominent or unique use of the instrument.
All entries on this page are listed alphabetically by performer or ensemble. However, the entire list may also be viewed in this spreadsheet, which is sortable and filterable by title, performer, publisher, year, and catalog number. Additionally, the spreadsheet includes editorial remarks or descriptions, including some track listings.
I would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions of Kevin McDermott, Peter Forrester, and Atsushi Ebihara, without whom this page would be half of what it is. Their contributors can be identified by the following initials (all other contributions are mine):
A.E. = Atsushi Ebihara
K.McD. = Kevin McDermott
P.F. = Peter Forrester
If you would like to make a contribution or correction to this list — or if you are a performer and would like a link added to your album — please contact me.
Recordings featuring period wire-strung instruments:
A musicall banquet. Andreas Scholl & al.. Decca, 2001. 466 917-2
De Vrede van Munster - Politieke Muziek uit de 80-jarige Oorlog. Camerata Trajectina. Globe, 1998. GLO 6048
Souterliedekens: 16th century secular songs and psalm settings from the Netherlands. Camerata Trajectina. Globe, 1994. GLO 6020
Genade ende Vrede: 16th and 17th century Mennonite music from the Netherlands. Camerata Trajectina. Globe, 1995. 2-CD set. GLO 6038
Jan Steen, Schilder en verteller: Jan Steen, painter and storyteller. Camerata Trajectina. Globe, 1996. GLO 6040
Maastrichts Liedboek: Maastricht Songbook, 1554. Camerata Trajectina. Globe, 1999. GLO 6046
Songs and Dances from Flanders. Capella Sancti Michaelis. Eufoda, 1993. 1163
The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book - Transcriptions for a mixed consort. charivari agreable. Signum, 1999. SIGCD009
Schweizer Lautenmusik der Renaissance. Christoph Greuter. Musikszene Schweiz, 2002. MGB CD6198
A Handefull of Pleasant Delites: Elizabethan Ballads & Dances. Circa 1500. ASV Gaudeamus, 1997. CD GAU 163
New Fashions: Cries & Ballads of London. Circa 1500. CRD, 1992. CRD 3487
Music at Hamlet's Castle. Consortium Hafniense. Danacord, 1994. DACOCD344
Mr. Arbeau's School of Dancing (1589) Vol. I. Convivium Musicum. Musica Rediviva, 1989. MRCD 001
Daniel Benko on Seven Instruments. Daniel Benko. Hungaraton, 1992. HCD31479
Bassadanza. Dante Ferrara. Gargantua Music, 1998. GRGCD 021
Rosasolis, music and songs from England's golden age. Dante Ferrara. Gargantua Music, 2001. GRGCD 01022
Apollo's Banquet: 17th Century Music from the Publications of John Playford. David Douglass, Paul O'Dette, and Andrew Lawrence-King. Harmonia Mundi, 1998. HMU 907186
Pasqualini Demarzi: Six Sonatas for Cetra or Kitara. Doc Rossi and Andrea Damiani. Cetra, 2003. 001 [Remastered 2024]
La Cetra Galant. Doc Rossi. Cetra, 2008. 002
Francesco Geminiani: The Art of Playing the Guitar or Cittra. Doc Rossi, David Wyn Lloyd, Jed Barahal. Cetra Records, 2024.
Music From New Bag End. Doc Rossi. Cetra Records, 2024.
Lauten und Historische Gitarren. Duo Panonno (Johannes Vogt and Ulrich Wedemeier). Conventus Musicus, 1994. CM 1080
My Lady Rich, her Teares and Joy. Emily Van Evera, Christopher Morrongiello, et al. Heartsease Productions, 2005. AVO045
Chansons - Danses - Musiques Medievales et Renaissances. Ensemble Jehan de Channey. DE PLEIN VENT, 1989. DPV CD 1989-04
Under The Greenwood Tree. Estampie. Naxos, 1997. 8.553442
Jacobean Masque & Theatre Music. Extempore String Ensemble. Acanthus, 1995. 94003
The Art of Extemporisation. Extempore String Ensemble. Cantate/Musicaphon, 1987; 1994. M 56805
Consort Music of the English Renaissance. Extempore String Ensemble. Meridian, 1995. CDE 84256
Dancing Day. Hesperus. Koch, 2000. 3-7507-2 HI
Early American Roots: Country dance tunes, improvisations & shape note hymns. Hesperus. Maggie's Music, 1997. MMCD216
Holburns Passion: Music for lute, cittern & bandora. Jacob Heringman. ASV Ltd, 1997. CD GAU 173
John Dowland: The Complete Solo Lute Music. Jakob Lindberg. BIS, 1996. BISCD722/4
Three, Four & Twenty Lutes. Jakob Lindberg, Robert Meunier, Nigel North, Paul O'Dette, et al.. BIS, 1986. CD-341
Music of the Renaissance Virtuosi. James Tyler, Nigel North, Douglas Wootton and Jane Ryan. Saga, 1994 (rec. 1976). EC3350-2.
Musica Mediterranea - Music of the Italian & Spanish Renaissance. Kithara. Chandos Chaconne, 1994. Chan 0562
Llibre Vermell de Montserrat. La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Hesperion XXI, Jordi Savall. ALIA VOX, 2017. 8435408099196
Chansons Vertes Gaillardes et Coquines au temps de Francois I et Henri IV. La Maurache. ARION, 196. ARN 68344
The Spirit of Gambo: Tobias Hume. Labyrinto. Glossa, 1996. GCD 920402
Altenglische Consortmusik. Linde-Consort. EMI Reflexe, 2000 (rec. 1971). 8 26471 2
Aguirre. Los Otros. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, .
16th Century Italian & French Dance Music. Musica Reservata. Boston Skyline, 1994. BSD 123
The Instruments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Musica Reservata of London. Vanguard Classics, 1997 (rec. 1972). OVC8093/94
The Leaves be Green. Musica Viva / James Tyler. RCM, 1998. RCM 19604
The Masque of Oberon. Musicians of the Globe. Philips Classics, 1997. 446 217-2
Nutmeg and Ginger: Spicy Ballads from Shakespeare's London. Musicians of the Globe. Philips Classics, 1999. 456 507-2
Susato: Dansereye. New London Consort. Decca, 1998. 436 131-2
Elizium - Elizabethan Ballads, Ayres & Dances. Pantagruel. Totentanz Records, . TOT23046
John Dowland: Complete Lute Works, Volume 1. Paul O'Dette. Harmonia Mundi, 1995. HMU 907160
Robin Hood: Elizabethan Ballad Settings. Paul O'Dette. Harmonia Mundi, 2001. HMU 907265
Canzoni e Danze - Wind Music from Renaissance Italy. Piffaro. ARCHIV, 1995. 445 883-2
PRAETORIUS / Terpsichore Musarum (1612). Ricercar Consort. Ricercar, 1994. RIC139131
James Oswald: Twelve Divertimentis for the Guittar (1759). Rob MacKillop. ASV Gaudeamus, 2001. CD GAU 221
Flowers of the Forest: Scottish traditional music for lute, mandour, cittern, and guittar. Rob MacKillop. Greentrax, 1998. CDTRAX 155
The Healing: Scottish Lute and Cittern Music 17th to 21st Centuries. Rob MacKillop. Greentrax, 2002. CDTRAX 227
Guide des Instruments de la Renaissance. Romanesque. Ricercar, 1995. RIC95001/A-C
Songs for William Shakespeare. Sara Stowe, Matthew Spring and Sharon Lindo. Classical Communications, 2000. CCL CDG1006
Music of the Italian Renaissance. Shirley Rumsey. Naxos, 1994. 8.550615
Stuart Age Music - Tunes from Troubled Times. Sirinu. Griffin, 1996. GCCD4007
Court Jesters - Tudor Minstrel Music. Sirinu. Griffin, 1996. GCCD4013
Music for Roundheads & Cavaliers. St. George's Canzona. ASV, 1994. CD QS 6130
Throw the House out of the Windowe, and other damn fine dance tunes. Terry McKenna and his musical mates. Marquis, 2001. 7 7471 81277 2 3
On the Banks of the Helicon: Early Music of Scotland. The Baltimore Consort. Dorian, 1990. DOR-90139
Watkins Ale: Music of the English Renaissance. The Baltimore Consort. Dorian, 1991. DOR-90142
The Art of the Bawdy Song. The Baltimore Consort. Dorian, 1992. DOR-90155
La Roque'n'Roll: Popular Music of Renaissance France. The Baltimore Consort. Dorian, 1993. DOR-90177
Bright Day Star - Music for the Yuletide Season. The Baltimore Consort. Dorian, 1994. DOR-90198
A Trip to Killburn: Playford Tunes and their Ballads. The Baltimore Consort. Dorian, 1996. DOR-90238
Tunes from the Attic. The Baltimore Consort. Dorian, 1997. DOR-90235
The Ladyes Delight. The Baltimore Consort. Dorian, 1998. DOR-90252
The Mad Buckgoat. The Baltimore Consort. Dorian, 1999. DOR-90279
Adew Dundee - Early Music of Scotland. The Baltimore Consort. Dorian, 2003. DOR-90314
John Playford's Popular Tunes. The Broadside Band. Amon Ra, 1987. CD-SAR 28
Dances of Court and Country from the time of Elizabeth I and James I. The Broadside Band. Classical Communications, 2003. CCL CD858
Revels for 1588. The Broadside Band. Dolmetsch Historical Dance Society, 1988. DHDS-CD1988.1
Popular Tunes in 17th Century England. The Broadside Band. Harmonia Mundi, 1980. HMA 1901039
The Beggar's Opera: Original songs and airs. The Broadside Band. Harmonia Mundi, 1982. HMC 901071
Danses Populaires Francaises. Thoinot Arbeau, Orchesographie, 1588. The Broadside Band. Harmonia Mundi France, 1999 (rec. 1982-4). HMA1901152 (rec. 1982-84)"
Il Ballarino - Italian Dances c.1600. The Broadside Band. Helios, 2000 (rec. 1986). CDH55059
English Country Dances from Playford's Dancing Master, 1651-1703. The Broadside Band. Saydisc, 1991. CD-SDL 393
Songs & Dances from Shakespeare. The Broadside Band. Saydisc, 1995. CD-SDL 409
Sixteenth Century Music - The Muses' Garden for Delights. The Camerata of London. Saga, 1993 (rec. 1977). EC3392-2
Popular Music from the time of Queen Elizabeth I. The Camerata of London. Saga, 1994. EC3352-2
"How the World Wags:" Social music for a 17th century Englishman. The City Waites. Hyperion, 1986. CDA 66008
DON QUIXOTE - The Musical. The City Waites. Musica Oscura, 1995. 70973
The Musitians of Grope Lane: Music of Brothels and Bawdy Houses of Purcell's England. The City Waites. Musica Oscura, 1996. MOPS 070969
Penny Merriments - Street Songs of 17th Century England. The City Waites. Naxos, 2005. 8.557672
Music of The Stuart Age. The City Waites. Soundalive, 1995. SAMMT/CD/105
There were three Ravens: Songs, rounds and catches by Thomas Ravenscroft. The Consort of Musicke. Virgin Veritas Classics, 1991. VC7 91217-2
JOHN DOWLAND lute songs. The Consort of Six. Harmonia Mundi France, 1978. HMX290837
"Heavenly Noyse:" English Consort Music for Mixed Consort from the Golden Age. The Dowland Consort. BIS, 1989. CD-451
Anthony Holborne: Pavans, Galliards, Almains, and other short Aeirs. The Dowland Consort. BIS, 1989. CD-469
Johnny, Cock thy Beaver. The Dufay Collective. Chandos, 1996. Chan 9446
Henry VIII and his Six Wives. The Early Music Consort of London. Testament, 2004 (rec. 1972). SBT-1250
Instruments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The Early Music Consort of London. Yamano Gakki, 1996 (rec. 1973-4). YMCD1031-32
Two Renaissance Dance Bands / Monteverdi's Contemporaries. The Early Music Consort of London & The Morley Consort. Testament, 1996 (rec. 1971-5). SBT-1080
Great Music from the court of Elizabeth I. The Elizabethan Consort. The Gift of Music / Classical Communications, Ltd., 2003. CCL CDG1052
Exquisite Consorts. The Harp Consort. Berlin Classics, 1995. 0011552BC
Carolan's Harp. The Harp Consort. BMG/Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, 1996. 05472-77375-2
El arte de fantasia. The Harp Consort. Harmonia Mundi USA, 2004. HMU907316
Le Jardin de Melodies, 16th c. French Dances and Songs. The King's Noyse with Paul O'Dette. Harmonia Mundi, 1997. HMU 907194
The King's Delight: 17C Ballads for voice & violin Band. The King's Noyse with Paul O'Dette. Harmonia Mundi, 1993. HMU 907101
The Queen's Delight: 17C Ballads and Dances. The King's Noyse with Paul O'Dette. Harmonia Mundi, 1996. HMU 907180
Anthony Holborne: "My Selfe". The King's Noyse with Paul O'Dette. Harmonia Mundi, 1999. HMU 907238
Elizabethan Social Music: English Consorts, Lute Duets, and Solos. The London Early Music Group. Emergo/Saga Classics, 1993. EC 3395-2
Monteverdi's L'Orfeo. The Monteverdi Choir, The English Baroque Soloists, His Majesties Sag butts and Cornetts, with John Eliot Gardiner. Archiv Produktion, 1987. 2 LP set 419251/2
As I Went to Walsingham. The Musicians of Swanne Alley. Harmonia Mundi, 1987. HMC 905192
In the Streets and Theatres of London - Elizabethan Ballads and Theatre Music. The Musicians of Swanne Alley. Virgin, 1989. VC790789-2
Joyne Hands: Music of Thomas Morley, composer, arranger and publisher. The Musicians of Swanne Alley/Red Byrd. Virgin Veritas, 1995. VER 5 61241 2
Fortune My Foe - Popular music from the period of the Gunpowder Plot. The York Waits. Beautiful Jo, 2005. BEJOCD-48
Christmas Musicke. The York Waits. Brewhouse Music, 1996. BHCD9607
The Punk's Delight: Popular Musick of the 17th Century. The York Waits. Huntsup, 1991. CD 1
1588: Music from the time of the Spanish Armada. The York Waits. Saydisc, 1988. CD-SDL 373
Tanzmusik von der Renaissance bis zum Biedermeier. Ulsamer-Collegium. ARCHIV, 1975. 439 964-2
Sortable / filterable spreadsheet of the above:
(Click the box in the upper right to expand in a new window.)