Come all ye songsters of the sky (from 'The Fairy Queen'), aria, Z. 629/7
May the god of wit inspire (from 'The Fairy Queen'), trio for alto, tenor & bass, Z. 629/8ab
Hark how all things in one sound agree (from 'The Fairy Queen'), aria, Z. 629/47
Ground in Gamut for harpsichord in G major, Z. 645
Thrice Happy Lovers (Epithalamium from 'The Fairy Queen'), aria for soprano, Z. 629/39bc
I look'd and saw within (from 'Indian Emperor'), song, Z. 598/1
Now the night is chas'd away (from 'The Fairy Queen'), soprano aria with chorus, Z. 629/28
Hark! now the echoing air (from 'The Fairy Queen'), soprano aria and chorus, Z. 629/48
Turn then thine eyes, song, Z. 425
Ground for harpsichord in D minor, (from 'Celebrate This Festival' Z. 321/2a), ZD 222 (doubtful)
No, no, poor suff'ring heart (from 'Cleomenes'), song, Z. 576/1
In vain, 'gainst Love, in vain I strove (from 'Henry the Second, King of England'), song, Z. 580/1
Yes, Daphne, in your looks I find (from 'The Fairy Queen'), ground & aria, Z. 629/45
Corinna is divinely fair, song, Z. 365
Thus to a ripe, consenting maid (from 'Old Bachelor'), song, Z. 607/10
Hornpipe for harpsichord in E minor (from 'The Old Bachelor' Z. 607/4), ZT 685
Voluntary for organ in G major, Z. 720
Hail, bright Cecilia (Ode for St. Cecilia's Day), for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 328: 'Tis natures voice
Hail, bright Cecilia (Ode for St. Cecilia's Day), for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 328: Thou tuns't this world
Hail, bright Cecilia (Ode for St. Cecilia's Day), for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 328: The fife and all ye harmony
Voluntary for organ in D minor, Z. 718
Celebrate this festival (Birthday Ode for Queen Mary), ode for 5 soloists, double chorus, 2 oboes, 2 trumpets & continuo, Z. 321: Apr
Celebrate this festival (Birthday Ode for Queen Mary), ode for 5 soloists, double chorus, 2 oboes, 2 trumpets & continuo, Z. 321: Dep
Celebrate this festival (Birthday Ode for Queen Mary), ode for 5 soloists, double chorus, 2 oboes, 2 trumpets & continuo, Z. 321: Kin
Prelude for keyboard in G minor, Z. 661
Ah! cruel nymph! you give despair for soprano & continuo, Z. 352
I see, she flies me (from 'Aureng-Zebe'), song, Z. 573/1
I love and I must, song, Z. 382
Not all my torments can your pity move, song, Z. 400
What can we poor females do?, song for soprano & continuo, Z. 429
The Gresham Autograph is a manuscript in Purcell's own handwriting evidently prepared for giving recitals rather like the one on this disc. It's a collection of songs the composer extracted from larger works such as The F... more »airy Queen, the ode Hail, Bright Cecilia! and works in honor of Queen Mary, as well as some freestanding songs like the notorious "What can we poor females do?" All of the songs are arranged for one soloist, including many that were originally duets and trios. Purcell transposed a number of the works up for soprano from their original ranges--most notably "'Tis Nature's Voice" from Hail, Bright Cecilia!, originally for a countertenor (quite possibly Purcell himself). On this release, we hear three different sopranos, all stalwarts of London's baroque music scene: the assured Rachel Elliott, the gentle, sweet-voiced Libby Crabtree, and the vibrant Deborah York, whose rendition of "'Tis Nature's Voice" is a highlight. And there's an extra treat: several of Purcell's short pieces for keyboard played on a spinet (sort of a baby harpsichord) and a small 16th-century English organ with a distinctive timbre. The one piece of bad news: you'll have to listen through or around the recording to appreciate much of this. The combination of venue and recording quality tends to even out the nuances of volume in the singing (only the most obvious echo effects register), giving a nasal edge to the voices and exaggerating their (slight) vibrato somewhat. This is a well-performed program of some delightful Purcell songs. It's just unfortunate that the flat sound gets in the way. --Matthew Westphal« less
The Gresham Autograph is a manuscript in Purcell's own handwriting evidently prepared for giving recitals rather like the one on this disc. It's a collection of songs the composer extracted from larger works such as The Fairy Queen, the ode Hail, Bright Cecilia! and works in honor of Queen Mary, as well as some freestanding songs like the notorious "What can we poor females do?" All of the songs are arranged for one soloist, including many that were originally duets and trios. Purcell transposed a number of the works up for soprano from their original ranges--most notably "'Tis Nature's Voice" from Hail, Bright Cecilia!, originally for a countertenor (quite possibly Purcell himself). On this release, we hear three different sopranos, all stalwarts of London's baroque music scene: the assured Rachel Elliott, the gentle, sweet-voiced Libby Crabtree, and the vibrant Deborah York, whose rendition of "'Tis Nature's Voice" is a highlight. And there's an extra treat: several of Purcell's short pieces for keyboard played on a spinet (sort of a baby harpsichord) and a small 16th-century English organ with a distinctive timbre. The one piece of bad news: you'll have to listen through or around the recording to appreciate much of this. The combination of venue and recording quality tends to even out the nuances of volume in the singing (only the most obvious echo effects register), giving a nasal edge to the voices and exaggerating their (slight) vibrato somewhat. This is a well-performed program of some delightful Purcell songs. It's just unfortunate that the flat sound gets in the way. --Matthew Westphal