Album: Sweelinck, Secular Vocal Works, (Glossa)

Principally known for his keyboard works, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621) was also an accomplished madrigalist. Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam's three-disc set confirms his extraordinary facility for absorbing different styles, from the robust to the florid.

Sadly, the singers downplay his virtuosity, and though the diction and blend are tidy enough, there's a fatal lack of drama. Lee Santana's lute solos and Anneke Boeke and Marion Verbruggen's Renaissance recorders pep things up when the going gets dull.