Jean Japart (fin 15e siècle)
J'ay pris amours a ma devise

Bartolomeo Tromboncino (1470-1535)
Ostinato vo seguire

Andrea Gabrieli (1510-1586)
Io mi son giovinetta
Canzon Francesca deta Frais & Gaillard

John Bennet (1570-?1614)
Venus' birds

Richard Nicholson (?1570-1639)
Joan, quoth John

William Byrd (1538-1623)
Galiard

Max Knigge (1984-)
Ochtendbede

Clemens Non Papa (?1510-1555)
Entre vous les filles

Hans Koolmees (1959-)
Love Song-Tierelantijntje
Love Song, Visioen

Orlando de Lassus (1532-1594)
Tota pulchra es amica mea

Claudin de Sermisy (?1490-1562)
Dont vient cela

Tielman Susato (?1510-?1570)
Basse dance Dont vient cela

Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612)
Ach, weh des Leiden

Thomas Simpson (1582-?1630)
Bonny sweet Robin

Cecil Sharp (1859-1924)/Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
O Waly, Waly

Walther Stuhlmacher (1961-)
Abschied

Amaryllis Dieltiens, soprano
Brisk Recorder Quartet Amsterdam

Always About Love's opening track J’ay pris amours a ma devise (I have chosen love as my device) is the motto for the album with songs about longing and happiness, sadness and saying farewell. BRISK and Amaryllis Dieltiens have created a programme with music from various different styles and periods on these timeless themes. The poetry is the starting point for the various sections. The instrumental pieces are also all connected to this content, and could be listened to as instrumental poetry, as songs without words.Alongside 16th and 17th century music from England, France and Germany, the sound of more recent times should not be lacking on this album. The quartet has arranged versions by Cecil Sharp and Benjamin Britten of the English folksong O Waly Waly. “Love is handsome, love is kind”, but love may fade away like the morning dew. Dawn is also used as a metaphor for the beloved in Max Knigge’s Ochtendbede, based on a sonnet by Jacques Perk. Hans Koolmees has written two songs about earthly and heavenly love, based on texts by the medieval mystic Hadewijch and the modern Flemish poet Eva Cox, and finally Walther Stuhlmacher has composed a wordless farewell. However different these worlds may seem, it is always all about love!