Golden Age Singers, The Randolph Singers - English Madrigals of Weelkes Bateson Wilbye Tomkins Morley

Review by Spencer Fuller

Album Review: English Madrigals of Weelkes Bateson Wilbye Tomkins Morley by The Golden Age Singers & The Randolph Singers Alright, buckle up, because this one’s a ride through time. Picture it: 1966, America—bell-bottoms are starting to creep in, but over here, we’ve got something way cooler than fashion trends. It’s English Madrigals of Weelkes Bateson Wilbye Tomkins Morley, brought to life by The Golden Age Singers and The Randolph Singers. If you’re into classical music with that medieval-meets-renaissance vibe, this album is like finding an old treasure chest full of gold coins… except the coins are harmonies so rich they’ll make your ears tingle. Let’s talk genres for a sec. Sure, it says “Non-Music” on some databases, which makes zero sense unless you’re tone-deaf or just mad at art. No, no—this is pure Classical goodness, leaning hard into Early Music territory. Think Religious vibes mixed with courtly love songs and enough Renaissance flair to fill a royal banquet hall. And oh boy, does it deliver. Now, let me zoom in on two tracks from this beast of an album. First up: "Death Hath Deprived Me." Whoa, right? Talk about setting the mood. This piece hits you square in the feels. The voices layer together like velvet drapes folding over each other, and when Burt Spero’s bass vocals rumble beneath everything else, it’s almost haunting. You can practically see the candlelit room where this would’ve been performed centuries ago. I mean, who wouldn’t remember a song that starts off telling you death took someone away? Dark, brooding, beautiful—it sticks to your brain like syrup on pancakes. Then there’s "My Bonny Lass She Smileth," which flips the script entirely. Where “Death Hath Deprived Me” is all shadowy corners and existential dread, this track bursts out with joy. Elizabeth Osborne’s soprano floats above the melody like sunlight breaking through clouds. It’s playful, cheeky even, and kinda reminds you why people back then wrote songs about their crushes instead of sliding into DMs. The whole thing feels alive, like the singers are grinning while they perform. Honestly, it’s impossible not to hum along after hearing it once. The production quality might feel a little dated compared to today’s crystal-clear recordings, but honestly? That’s part of its charm. Mastered by Claude Rie (who clearly knew his stuff), the sound has this warm, analog fuzz that wraps around you like a cozy blanket. Plus, kudos to Asterisk Associates Inc. for the artwork—it’s classy without being pretentious, much like the music itself. What strikes me most about this album isn’t just how technically impressive it is (because wow, these vocalists could seriously sing circles around anyone). It’s the humanity in every note. These aren’t just songs; they’re stories, emotions, snapshots of lives lived long before ours. Listening to them feels like eavesdropping on history itself. And hey, here’s the kicker—I don’t usually cry during albums, but man, when David Randolph conducts those final notes of “When David Heard,” I’m reaching for tissues faster than I’d grab popcorn at a sad movie. Maybe it’s the raw grief in the lyrics, or maybe it’s René Soames’ tenor cutting straight through my soul. Either way, it’s powerful stuff. So yeah, if you’re looking for background noise while you scroll TikTok, this ain’t it. But if you want something that’ll transport you to another era, that’ll make you stop and really listen? Grab yourself a copy of English Madrigals. Just don’t blame me if you start daydreaming about wandering minstrels and jousting tournaments afterward.

Download Golden Age Singers, The Randolph Singers - English Madrigals of Weelkes Bateson Wilbye Tomkins Morley

Artist: Golden Age Singers, The Randolph Singers
Album: English Madrigals of Weelkes Bateson Wilbye Tomkins Morley

1966

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Flora Gave Me Fairest Flowers
Ye That Do Live In Pleasures
When To The Gloomy Woods
Come Sorrow Help Me Lament
In Dew Of Roses
Adieu Sweet Amaryllis
Yet Again, As Soon Revived
Yet Sweet, Take Heed
Sweet Honey Sucking Bees
Thule, The Period Of Cosmography
Cytheria Smiling Said
Death Hath Deprived Me
Lady, If I Go Through Grief
Phyllis Now Cease To Move Me
She With A Cruel Frown
See, See The Sheppards' Queen
O Grief Even On The Bud
O What Shall I Do?
I Go Before My Darling
All Pleasure Is Of This Condition
Hark Jolly Sheppards
As Wonton Birds
Thus Saith My Cloris Bright
Cupid In A Bed Of Roses
Come Follow Me
Now Is The Month Of Marrying
The Andalusian Merchant
In Every Place
Cease Sorrows Now
Camilia Fair Tripped O'er The Plain
I Fall, O Stay Me
And Through My Love Abounding
Happy, O Happy Hee
Fly Not So Swift, My Dear
Hard Destinies are Love
My Bonny Lass She Smileth
Weep No More Thou Sorry Boy
Fusca In Thy Starry Eyes
Off I Have Vowed
Arise Get Up My Dear
O Care, Thou Wilt Dispatch Me
Hence Care Thou Art Too Cruel
Too Much I Once Lamented
I Heard A Noise
Weep, Weep Mine Eyes
Lord, When I Think
Leave Now Mine Eyes Lamenting
Weep, O Mine Eyes
When David Heard

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Catalog Numbers

WMS-1006

Labels

Paramounts Westminster Multiples, Westminster

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Formats

Vinyl
LP

Credits

Role	Credit
Artwork By	Asterisk Associates Inc.
Baritone Vocals	Gordon Clinton
Bass Vocals	Burt Spero
Conductor	David Randolph
Contralto Vocals	Mildred Greenberg
Countertenor Vocals	John Whitworth
Directed By	Margaret Field-Hyde
Mastered By	Claude Rie
Mezzo-soprano Vocals	Anna Louise Kautz, Harriet Hill
Soprano Vocals	Elizabeth Osborne
Tenor Vocals	Arthur Squires, René Soames

Notes

Randolph, David
Field-Hyde, Margaret 1905
Weelkes, Thomas approximately 1575-1623.
Bateson, Thomas
Wilbye, John 1574-1638.
Tomkins, Thomas 1572-1656.
Morley, Thomas 1557-1603?
Randolph Singers.
Golden Age Singers.

About Golden Age Singers, The Randolph Singers

Members: , , , ,

Name Vars

The Golden Age Singers

Members

Ian Partridge
Margaret Field-Hyde
Andrew Pearmain
James Atkins
Valerie Cardnell
Alfred Hepworth

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that the album *English Madrigals of Weelkes Bateson Wilbye Tomkins Morley* is like a time capsule of Renaissance music? Released in 1966, it features a mix of voices—soprano to bass—bringing centuries-old compositions back to life. One standout detail? The track "When David Heard" is a hauntingly beautiful piece that showcases the emotional depth of early choral music. Plus, fun fact: the artwork was handled by Asterisk Associates Inc., adding a modern 1960s touch to this classical treasure. It’s wild how music from hundreds of years ago can still feel so alive today.