Search - Henry Purcell (Composer), Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall (Viol & Direction) :: Purcell: Fantasias for the Viols, 1680 - Hespèrion XX

Unique and wonderful music by Purcell played very beautifull

Craig Matteson | Ann Arbor, MI | 12/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While the string quartet as we know it today was an invention of the Classic through the works of Haydn and Mozart (and then Beethoven), people have been playing together in ensembles of stringed instruments for many centuries. The predecessor of the violin, viola, violoncello (cello), and double-bass were the viols. There were many different kinds of viols because they were not as standardized as the violin family and evolved in various areas of Europe over time. Ensembles of such instruments were often known as consorts. They were played by private groups for their own enjoyment, for public display, and the richest consorts were for court functions.



However, by the young twenty-one year old Henry Purcell turned his genius to writing these works in 1680, the idea of a consort of viols had gone out of fashion and the last publications for those ensembles had already been printed in 1660. These are among the greatest works of the type ever written. They are magnificently contrapuntal and achieve very great things. When you listen to them, think polyphony rather than trying to hear chord progressions and you will be able to appreciate them in their glory. Sometimes I just cannot believe the wonderfully biting dissonances Purcell achieves in these works and how they flow into the sweetest consonances.



The viol has a much reedier sound and different color palette than the violin family even though they both are bowed string instruments. This group, Hespèrion XX, is a very skilled and intelligent consort that brings out the music in these works beautifully well.



This is a disk that should not be missed because of the importance of these works, their unique place in music history, and the skill of the musicians playing these fabulous works."