Charlie Rose - Sting & Edin Karamazov

[vocal0choral]

Great performing ... Amazing lute player Master Karamazov!!

[klauswhitedreamer]

big respect , master Sting & master Edin!....

[firefinder2889]

WayoftheSun has it pegged! As I posted elsewhere, this music was not meant for the sterile lands of academic study, it was meant to be enjoyed.

Bravo to Sting for daring to dare. He has expanded his own horizons and by doing so, invited us to do so as well.

[XBAGREMX]

Is it enyone knows wher Edin come from???

[xxWayoftheSunxx]

I am so glad someone brought this music back. The people who would have performed this music would have been street performers,and they would have sounded very much like this. Its a wonderful thing that sting has done this.

[Fred50099]

Thanks!

[marmas58ink]

I think Sting's venture into Renaissance lute-land was the worst move of his career. I've only heard a bit of his stuff w/ orchestra, but bet it's a good deal better.

[HEADSUPBERKELEY]

GREAT workzzz1 Valiant succesful effort BRAVO

[jozafax]

If it ain't like this when you die, then it's all fake.

[thomigurl]

Music is free for all to enjoy - like any art.

This is quite personal & lovely, period.

[songstress73]

Umm this song isn't Dowland though.

It was written by Ben Jonson from his play "The Devil is an Ass" (1616) and later appeared in another Jonson work "The Celebration of Charis" (1620)... and set to music by Robert Johnson (no relation)... and was performed by Shakespeare's company, The King's Men" in 1616...

I just finished writing a huge essay on this piece, Ben Jonson and Robert Johnson.

I LOVE Sting, but I hate this. His voice does not suit the music. But kudos for trying something new...

[Huargo]

Well done Sting.

Many people knows Dowland thanks to this great singer.

Enjoy the barroc.

[Sefardi123]

To the "purist nay-sayers":

1) Dowland's music was MEANT to be performed at HOME - not only at concert halls; he published his music for that purpose - with notes printed in all directions so that family member could stand AROUND each page and sing together...

This is NOT high-brow music - and all the better for it. True Art is meant to enhance lifem not look down at it.

2) I own a cd of "Songs from the Labyrinth".

What sting lacks in technique, he more than makes up with HEART.

[hugovdg]

demeaning. he 'should'Nt've' done this {& what with that funny eastern european accent, not unlike mine}. leave it to Emma Kirkby & the ones with the SCHOOLING

[figaro0127]

you can really tell that he does not like this music. he' has destroyed it! Get me Julianne Baird, NOW!

[hugovdg]

actually, Emma Kirkby said (in an after-concert talk in Cambridge, MA, couple of months ago) that she believes Sting treats this music with respect (& that's all). the point of my brash comment (with apologies to CharlieRose; Sting will survive it) is that, renaissance & early baroque singing being subject to extensive & intense research, amateurs shouldn't dabble in it in public. but then, one could argue Sting enjoys it in the privacy of his own home...

[hugovdg]

i admire Sting, & i admire Dame Emma; doesn't mean i'd've like her to do 'why should i cry for you?'

[hugovdg]

'of his own labyrinth' was what i meant to say. - there are also questions of pitch inflation etc. that point out how fragile pre-baroque music is

[brignone83]

le meilleur album de sting une tres belle performance hate du prochain en octobre 2009

[Tullius]

Well, I 've bought the CD and I am very happy I've done it.

[Haris54321]

this guy who plays Lute is from Bosnia and Herzegovina

[sanja62]

yes,but lives in Croatia...Zagreb...studied in Zagreb too...

[HushHumanity]

Mouais, moyen ...

[mathproof]

Is Karamazov wearing stretch pants?

Sting's voice doesn't sound good in this genre.

[joyzzoo]

Genius! What a Treasure he is to this fleating human existance! :-)

[TheBrownBaron]

Are you kidding?!?!?!? This piece is from the Baroque. have you ever heard any of the music from then? It's supposed to be sung by a countratenor, people...Sting can't sing baroque music to save his life!!! The lutenist is OKAY...If you want to hear how this song SHOULD be performed, look up Andreas Scholl. 'nuff said!

[Camreals]

You are right off beam. His Dowland beats Scholl and other classical singers hands down. He puts across the right SOUND (soft, intimate, good balance with lute, and vibrato free), historically correct INTERPRETATION, and above all the right FEELING (clear words, intimate and emotional). Several researchers in the field share my views. Finally, it is quite incorrect to say that Dowland is the exclusive preserve of counter-tenors.

[ftubeiii]

THIS PARTICULAR piece was from the album of songs by Dowland, however it was the one piece that was not written by him.

[SmilinShadow]

sting IS a countratenor

[damnbeavers84]

Fantastic pure and ancient sound.

[StingsGirl]

He is just amazing... :)

There is nothing he cant do.

[WarlordFeyd]

Songs from the Labyrinth is a fantastic CD and it's very calming throughout so hopefully you bought it StingsGirl! ;-)

Mikey (Sting's biggest fan!)

[ohcarling]

okay maybe this is not the best tribute ever made to john dowland, but it's a beautiful album anyway and no one can deny sting has a lovely touching voice. Come on, just listen to it

[oflahertie2]

I am afriad that I must agree with slawekgreen.

I do admire him for trying though.

[slawekgreen]

I like Sting, but there are some songs he should not sing.

[933203]

Beautiful expression with British authenthic interpretation for John Dowland!

[usenetposts]

Please. It takes more than just being British to interpret Dowland. This is OK, but not as good as I hoped from this intelligent man.

[933203]

Basically, I appreciate what Sting and Karamazov have done to bring more public attention to the style of early 17th century British music. Rarely, will you see a person of Stings popularity, attempt to play this style of music. I appreciate their effort in interpreting John Dowland's music. What I wrote about "British" here does not only mean for "Sting".

[emseetje]

I love it !

[hotspurschool]

I can't get why folks are so down on a someone who is a legendary musician and performer in his own lifetime.

Sting took up the lute, an instrument he so clearly loves and has an affinity for, and brings it back to the masses.

It's about the heart he shows in his performances, not the technical masturbation of so many other performers.

How would this have sounded in Dowland's time? As good as this, I suspect.

Lay off the man and give credit where it's due.

[edantes]

I love the Police and bits of Sting solo stuff. I am surprised that saw fit to release this album. Is it my ears or he really cannot hold the long notes in key? I don't doubt his ability to deliver the emotion of these songs, but he doesn't have the equipment to sing them with a naked voice.

On his day job, his voice always gets some electronic processing that makes things like Roooooooooooxane possible. Not here, and the result is painful.

Sorry fans, but this is just plain embarrassing.

[subz6]

sounds brilliant to me,

what gives you the right to be so critical?

i'd like to see you sing better.

[edantes]

I am sure you don't want to hear me singing. It is a just plain observation. Sting cannot hold the long notes in key, nor can he execute the ornamentations. Sting's voice has a certain charm that carries the day in his own songs, but for this song in particular, it is an unsurmountable handicap. Just check early music singers performing similar pieces for comparison. Look for Andreas Scholl or Emma Kirby here at YouTube.

[caeruleus12]

Sting is well aware of his vocal limitations when it comes to polyphony. He is simply approaching this music with humility and respect, thereby hoping to expand the introduction of this art of song to the public. His fame will act as a conduit for those legitimately interested in learning the lute and/or song.

[gringoroc]

Sorry to disappoint you but I think you'll find at the time when "Roxanne" was recorded, there was no such thing as autotune processing for vocals

[seedyrom247]

Simply beautiful!

[KittusTheMighty]

If only ramming that lute up his fundament felt 'artistically right for him'. I'll carry on hoping.

[jaquesderrida]

This is ball-achingly awful...

[pianoboyo]

Whats so pretentious about a man choosing to sing the music he has an interest in. Sting is an artist..who does what he thinks is musically 'right for him' whatever the critics are going to throw at him. Win Win here as it was a musical and critical success - I suspect he paid his costs with it too! - good on him!! and Yea for the music of John Dowland which is very unstuffy, simple and powerfull.

[ryan06105]

Now I understand why he put The Police back together.

[KittusTheMighty]

AKA 'Have You Seen The Balding Smug Prick'

[russpinney]

What a pretentious twat! Fantastic!

[TrueBCW]

Excellence, par none! Dowland and Sting are masterminds

[ColdChicago]

Dowland was the Shakespeare of English lute composition and song. Sting pays tribue to English song-and Karamazov a  virtuoso.

[lema85]

great!

[SinatraChild]

great to see their performance again. I was there too (Wienerkonzertshaus) with my wife in Loge 5 ;) She is almost crying, hearing her beloved song played live by sting and edin :)

[thepicardythird]

This music is so amazing. I have been a Sting fan for many many years, but this is BY FAR my favorite thing he has done. I love his compositions... but this just speaks to me. Simple and beautiful. I love, if you watch the DVD, how truly interested he seems in Dowland. It makes it truly seem to me that this wasn't a "hey, I need a new image/cd" campaign, which to me, makes it even more beautiful.

[opus2200]

I had heard that Sting was doing an album of John Dowland's work, and I was intrigued, but forgot about it for awhile. Last night, I was flipping around and happened to turn to PBS just as the special with Sting & Edin was starting. I was extremely impressed and have now purchased both the album and the DVD.

[smanticor]

bravado Edin

[waltts]

a wonderful concept - as this music was all secular, and would have been sung (originally) by the more ethnic or common musicians.

I think that is why this works so well. Not that Sting is a common musician - he just lacks the years of classical training.

[HarperMinstrel]

Very nice! The Lute playing here is superb! My wife and I are touring Renaissance Musicians (The Harper and the Minstrel). We listen to Stings latest CD quite often! Huzzah!

[classicguitar82]

because it's not sting's music so yeah it's his best

[tuyerobass]

the best music of Sting

[crisalvini]

Tank you soooo much! I love this Odd Couple!