Incredible! A masterful work of art. Never one to count his success by the number of albums sold, this musician says, "music is its own reward." And "Song from the Labyrinth" is truly a labour of love for him.
Gordon Sumner's musical career began with jazz and a bass guitar in his home of Newcastle, England. A band mate spotted Sumner wearing a yellow and black striped sweater one day and called him Sting. The name stuck and it is how he is known today. This former teacher was involved with a number of bands early in his career, the most famous of which is The Police.
After The Police split up Sting turned to acting. When he once again turned to music he did not pick up the bass but a regular guitar. With that his solo career began and shows no sign of slowing down for this 55 year old rocker.
His latest work of music is an album of music from the Elizabethan period. The album "Songs from the Labyrinth" was inspired by the gift of a lute. While Sting left the lute playing to master lutenist Bosnian Edin Karamazov, Sting puts his unique style on the lyrics.
The music in the album is that of English singer-songwriter John Dowland. Like most musicians of his time Dowland served at the mercy of the court - he wrote and played his music for the royalty of Europe. Considered one of the greatest musicians of his time John Dowland was thought to be the first English singer-songwriter. In performing the songs on the album Sting admits a lack of experience in music of the era so he approaches the songs as if they were pop tunes - only 500 years old.
Interspersed among the songs Sting reads excerpts from a letter penned by Dowland to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I.
A labour of love for Sting "Songs from the Labyrinth" contains beautiful yet simple melodies heard only in music of the Baroque era.
Once again Sting has demonstrated his ability to go outside the realm of his supposed rock world to produce a masterful work of music from the Elizabethan composer John Downland.
