Songs & Dances of Medieval and Renaissance Times (CD, May-2007, Collectables Records)

I bought this CD for use as possible pre-show music for an upcoming production of Once Upon a Mattress which is set in a medieval time period. The CD quality is great and there is a wide range of music covering England and various parts of Europe from the 13th to the1 5th centuries. The instrumentation is "played on the original instruments" which makes it a little strange to my modern ears, but interesting to listen to. Overall, I enjoy it, but since it covers such a wide range, it is a little too disjointed for my purposes. Some of the music is peppy, but some sounds like church music and the selections come in short snippets from one style to another without much rhyme or reason that I can see. Also, some of the music had a distinctly middle eastern sound which may be perfectly period correct, but I fear this may confuse the theater goers since the show is set in Europe. I would have also liked liner notes to explain a little more about what I was hearing, what the instruments were, etc. The only information inside the case is after market info. for Collectables Records. The CD does not have the bawdy lyrics found on some Renaissance CDs I have purchased; overall, it has a more serious, almost scholarly feel IMHO. Bottom line: I enjoy this CD but not for the purpose I intended.