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Purcell - Harmonia Sacra                 | Brilliant Classics 93899

Purcell - Harmonia Sacra

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Label: Brilliant Classics

Cat No: 93899

Barcode: 5028421938998

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Release Date: 20th July 2009

This product has now been deleted. Information is for reference only.

Contents

About

Purcell was not just a creature of the theatre – his genius with the human voice extended to secular songs and Odes for Queen Mary. Less familiar are his sacred songs. Although some appeared in John Playford’s Harmonia Sacra of 1688 and 1693, many remained in manuscript and known only to a select few.

There is some credence to the thought that Purcell intended them for an elite group. The choice of text is fastidious, and probably points towards a discerning friend in the court musical circles.

For example, the metaphysical poets were out of fashion at this time, but whoever Purcell’s intended audience was, such poets remained a firm favourite for the composer. Other texts are by his contemporaries at court, lavished with as much care and attention as the settings from the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer.

The settings are scored for small forces – one to two voices, accompanied by continuo. The emotional range, however, is huge, with contemplative and introspective songs rubbing shoulders with numbers such as ‘O, I’m sick of life’, where the singer rails against a cruel avenging God. In the setting ‘In guilty night’ or ‘Saul and the Witch of Endor’, you can sense the world of opera is never far away.

This recording intersperses the sacred songs with, organ works – Purcell was one of the most brilliant organists of his day, but surprisingly he only left about six works for the instrument.

Contents:
1. Lord, what is man, lost man? Z192
Charles Daniels, tenor · Timothy Roberts, harpsichord

2. O solitude Z406
Susan Hemington Jones, soprano · Paula Chateauneuf, theorbo

3. In the black, dismal dungeon of despair Z190
Angus Smith, tenor · Paula Chateauneuf, theorbo · Fred Jacobs, theorbo · Timothy Roberts, organ

4. Lord, I can suffer thy rebukes Z136
Susan Hemington Jones, soprano · Tessa Bonner, soprano · Julian Podger, tenor · Peter Harvey, bass · Paula Chateauneuf, theorbo · Fred Jacobs, theorbo · Timothy Roberts, organ

5. Voluntary in G Z720
Timothy Roberts, organ

6. In guilty night (Saul and the Witch of Endor) Z134
Susan Hemington Jones, soprano · Charles Daniels, tenor · Christopher Purves, bass · Paula Chateauneuf, theorbo · Fred Jacobs, theorbo · Timothy Roberts, harpsichord · Paul McCreesh, organ

7. Voluntary in C Z717
Timothy Roberts, organ

8. Plung’d in the confines of despair Z142
Charles Daniels, tenor · Angus Smith, tenor · Christopher Purves, bass · Paula Chateauneuf, theorbo · Fred Jacobs, theorbo

9. Awake, ye dead Z182 3’04
Peter Harvey bass · Christopher Purves, bass · Paula Chateauneuf, theorbo · Fred Jacobs, theorbo · Timothy Roberts, harpsichord · Paul McCreesh, violin

10. The earth trembled Z197
Tessa Bonner, soprano · Timothy Roberts, harpsichord

11. My op’ning eyes are purg’d ZD72
Christopher Purves, bass · Timothy Roberts, organ · Paul McCreesh, violin

12. With sick and famish’d eyes Z200
Charles Daniels, tenor · Paula Chateauneuf, theorbo · Timothy Roberts, organ

13. Ground in C ZD221 (William Croft)
Timothy Roberts, organ

14. O, I’m sick of life Z140
Charles Daniels, tenor · Angus Smith, tenor · Christopher Purves, bass · Paula Chateauneuf, theorbo · Fred Jacobs, theorbo · Timothy Roberts, organ

15. Close thine eyes Z184
Susan Hemington Jones, soprano · Peter Harvey, bass · Paula Chateauneuf, theorbo · Timothy Roberts, organ

16. Funeral Sentences for the death of Queen Mary II (1695)
- Man that is born of a woman Z27
- In the midst Z17B
- Thou knowest, Lord Z58B
Tessa Bonner, soprano · Susan Hemington Jones, soprano · Julian Podger, tenor · Simon Berridge, tenor · Angus Smith, tenor · Charles Daniels, tenor · Christopher Purves, bass · Peter Harvey, bass · Timothy Roberts, organ

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