The Hermit (album)


The Hermit is the 1976 solo album by British folk musician John Renbourn. On this release, Renbourn drew from lute and harp sources, and pieces from Turlough O'Carolan such as O'Carolan's Concerto transcribed for guitar.
The Lamentation Of Owen Roe O'Neill is featured in Francis O'Neill's Music of Ireland from 1903.
Lord Inchiquin was collected in Edward Bunting's manuscripts currently residing at Queen's University Belfast.
Mrs Power is said to have been written by O'Carolan during a virtuosity competition between him and the Italian violinist Francesco Geminiani while both of them may have been invited by an Irish nobleman, Lord Mayo.
A Toye comes from the 1603 tutor Schoole of Musicke by Thomas Robinson.
Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home is an Elizabethan piece. There are versions for solo lute by Thomas Robinson and Nicolas Vallet and by John Dowland with the second part of an anonymous composer, and an arrangement named Rowland by William Byrd in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. It seems that this piece was made popular by William Kempe and his musicians who accompanied Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, in Holland. When Leicester was in disgrace and revoked, Lord Willoughby succeeded him, and Kempe, hoping to find a new employer, renamed the song in his honor.

Track listing

Side A

  1. "The Hermit"
  2. "John's Tune"
  3. "Little Alice"
  4. "Old Mac Bladgitt"
  5. "Faro's Rag"
  6. "Caroline's Tune"

    Side B

  7. Three Pieces By O'Carolan
  8. * "The Lamentation of Owen Roe O'Neill"
  9. * "Lord Inchiquin"
  10. * "Mrs. Power "
  11. "The Princess and the Puddings"
  12. "Pavanna "
  13. Medley
  14. * "A Toye"
  15. * "Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home"

    Personnel