Search - Henry Purcell, Skip Sempe, Francoise Johannel :: Evening Prayer

Excellent.

Benjamin L. Filippone | Pittsburgh, PA United States | 10/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK, I'm confused. Was that supposed to be a review? Phil Spector?!?



Anyway, on to something that makes sense. This is a wonderfully made recording that illustrates Purcell's unique and striking personality. Excellent performance of the standard you expect from Chanticleer. Two tracks are a cappella and ravishing, particularly "Hear My Prayer", a piece of music so daring, soaring, and ahead of its time that it can only be described as a singular work of art. The instrumental compliment on the rest of the disc is not only very prudent and well performed, but is also balanced to perfection with the voices in a way very rarely heard on CD. A must for any Baroque choral lover."

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 12/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THE JOLLY GOOD FELLOW AND CHAUCER'S SINGING ROOSTERS SEEM VERY COMPATIBLE!



"Henry Purcell looked like a Florentine prince, was hail-fellow-well-met in taven and taproom, wrote for the Church and also the stage and salon, was in fact, a most likeable young man as well as a great Master of Musick". Thus saith the historians, to which I heartily agree. For anyone to compose all the music that he did in a life-span of only 36 years is astounding to say the least! Except for his appointment as organist at the Chapel Royal and other churches, his compositions are the chief events of his life. His skill in counterpoint,his unique expressive voice and unparallelled gift for English text-setting appear in happy combination in his church music, and what better group to sing it, than Chanticleer!!!



Chanticleer's male sopranos help create a timbre whose intensity and clarity make a fascinating alternative to the classic English cathedral sound with which this music is normally associated, thereby bringing to the forefront the more universal qualities of Purcell's art.



All of the selections on this disc are much recorded and quite famlliar to the early music 'crowd'. "Rejoice in the Lord alway" and "I was glad' were 2 anthems written for the coronation of James II.

A very notable selection is 'Now that the sun has veiled his light' best known as "An Evening Hymn". This is not strictly speaking a church piece, but rather a sacred song for solo voice intended for domestic use; very popular with countertenors.



The selection "O Lord, rebuke me not" is sung on this disc by 2 sopranists ( the term usually used for male sopranos). and it is hauntingly lovely.



Purcell's final anthem (not included in this collection) entitled 'Thou knowst Lord, the Secrets of our Hearts' was written for the funeral of Queen Mary in 1694; six months later it again drew tears when it was sung for the composer's buriel in Westminster Abbey.



Chanticleer is perfection; the individual voices are top quality displaying clear diction, sonorous tone quality and as a group, the perfect blend."