Pierre Attaingnant Review

Hopkinson Smith "Pierre Attaingnant": The lute is an instrument of fragile beauty. I can’t see anyone plugging in a lute and rocking out. But that’s OK by me. Hopkinson Smith plays his lute with extreme precision and affection, to coin a phrase, as though making love to a woman. And it’s breathtaking. Close your eyes and you’ll be swept away to a time of kings and castles, lush meadows and angels overhead. All of the music on this disc was not written, but compiled by Pierre Attaingnant, who was a bookseller of (primarily) music books. The CD is a trip back in time, and perfect for an afternoon’s worth of reflection.

by Steven J. Athanas (Toledo City Paper)