The Nine Maidens
John Renbourn · 1985
36 min · 6 tracks · folk music
A tapestry of intricate fingerstyle guitar weaving through haunting melodies rooted in traditional folk and baroque influences.
Top tracks — play these first
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New Nothynge — This opening track sets the stage with its lively tempo and intricate guitar work, showcasing Renbourn's technical prowess and engaging melodic sense.
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Pavan d'Aragon — This piece highlights Renbourn's ability to blend baroque influences with folk sensibilities, creating a rich soundscape that feels both historical and fresh.
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The Nine Maidens — As the centerpiece of the album, this extended track combines storytelling with complex musical textures, encapsulating the album’s thematic depth and Renbourn's virtuosity.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Renbourn's intricate guitar work and blend of styles create a distinctive folk sound that rewards attentive listening.
What we noticed
- Each track features complex fingerstyle guitar arrangements that highlight Renbourn's technical skill and musicality.
- The album includes both original compositions and traditional pieces, blending folk melodies with baroque influences.
- The pacing varies significantly, with some tracks maintaining a steady tempo while others shift dynamically, creating a sense of movement.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intricate fingerstyle guitar patterns
- haunting melodies for quiet moments
- thoughtful reflections during solitude
- long, immersive acoustic explorations
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat, energetic music
- want fast-paced song structures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1985, The Nine Maidens marked John Renbourn's return to solo work after a period with the influential band Pentangle. This album showcases his mastery of acoustic guitar while bridging folk traditions with contemporary sensibilities, following his last solo effort, 1977's The Lady and the Unicorn.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Bert Jansch· Nick Drake· Davey Graham
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 New Nothynge 4:07
- 2 The Fish in the Well 2:30
- 3 Pavan d'Aragon 5:46
- 4 Variations on My Lady Carey's Dompe 6:15
- 5 Circle Dance 4:28
- 6 The Nine Maidens 13:27
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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