I'm not exactly certain as to who this new recording on the Olde Focus Recordings label would appeal to the most. Baroque music enthusiasts, Scottish folk song musicologists and historians, or just simply those who enjoy collecting curios. You see, the collection of pieces gathered together on this CD are galant-era arrangements by composers such as Francesco Geminiani and James Oswald amongst others, of songs questionably attributed to David Rizzio (Riccio), the 16th century secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots, who was savagely murdered for apparently having an affair with the Queen. According to some reports, the blood stains still remain on the floor where he was stabbed over fifty times, and his ghost still haunts the tower of Holyrood Palace. Now if that isn't enough to pique the curiosity of the aforementioned groups of people, I don't know what is.

But regardless of the titillating aspects that lurk within this musical motley pastiche of folk songs from the Highlands, the one thing I'm confident everyone would agree upon, is the authenticity of it all by the New York based early music ensemble Makaris. Formed in 2018 by some of the same members who founded the baroque Acronym Ensemble, they breathe new life into these 500 year old songs with titles like Love in Low Life, Down the Burn Davie and Dances from Queen Mab. An odd and eerie aspect to this last one, is that it builds up a strong head of steam but then suddenly ends as if abruptly interrupted. With the use of instruments like recorders, viola d'amore, bass viol, cittern, organ and a tromba marina, you can't help but feel like you've suddenly traveled back in time and are enjoying a tankard of old Scottish ale inside a seedy establishment. Add to all this the genuine diction and sound of singer Fiona Gillespie uttering period poetry, and you're there.