Paul O'Dette Concert

Last night my wife and I saw Paul O'Dette in concert at the Radford Guitar Festival. This was a special treat as this man is widely considered to be the greatest lutanist in the world. He played pieces by Holborne, Johnson, and (of course) John Dowland. I love early, Renaissance, and Baroque music. It is very ordered and restrained, yet full of emotion and melodic complexity. As I was listening to him play last night the music reminded me of the Book of Common Prayer. It too is very ordered and restrained, yet quite emotional at the same time. I would not be so quick to say that this "restrained emotionalism" is an "English" characteristic as much as it is a characteristic of the Renaissance in general. From an amateur classical guitarist's perspective this sound is common among Spanish, Italian, German, and English lute composers, and I imagine the same is true in religion and other areas.