Search - Henry Purcell, Daniel Taylor, Da Sonar :: Daniel Taylor - On The Muse's Isle (Vocal and Instrumental Works of Henry Purcell)

Henry Purcell, Daniel Taylor, Da Sonar
Daniel Taylor - On The Muse's Isle (Vocal and Instrumental Works of Henry Purcell)
Genres: Pop, Classical

Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
1. "Fairest isle" from King Arthur/Composed by Henry Purcell/Performed by Da Sonar with Daniel Taylor
2. Sonata No. 9 in C minor/Composed by Henry Purcell/Performed by Da Sonar with Daniel Taylor
3. "Music for a While" from Oedipus/Composed by Henry Purcell/Performed by Da Sonarwith Daniel Taylor
4. Sonata No. 3 in A minor/Composed by Henry Purcell/Performed by Da Sonar with Daniel Taylor
5. "Here the deities approve" from Welcome to all the pleasures/Composed by Henry Purcell/Performed by Da Sonar with Daniel Taylor
6. An Evening Hymn on a Ground/Composed by Henry Purcell/Performed by Da Sonar withDaniel Taylor
7. "O solitude, my sweetest choice"/Composed by Henry Purcell/Performed by Da Sowith Daniel Taylor
8. Sonata No. 6 in G minor/Composed by Henry Purcell/Performed by Da Sonar with Daniel Taylor
9. Sonata No. 12 in D major/Composed by Henry Purcell/Performed by Da Sonar with Daniel Taylor
10. "So ceas the rival crew" from An Ode on the Death of Mr. Henry Purcell/Composed by John Blow/Performed by Da Sonar with Daniel Taylor
11. So Ceas'd The Rival Crew: An Ode On The Death Of Mr Henry Purcell - Daniel Taylor

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CD Details

All Artists: Henry Purcell, Daniel Taylor, Da Sonar, Susan Napper, Chantal Remillard, Sylvain Bergeron, Rejean Poirier, Margaret Little, Christine Moran
Title: Daniel Taylor - On The Muse's Isle (Vocal and Instrumental Works of Henry Purcell)
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Atma Classique
Original Release Date: 1/1/1997
Re-Release Date: 11/10/1998
Genres: Pop, Classical
Styles: Vocal Pop, Opera & Classical Vocal, Chamber Music, Forms & Genres, Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music, Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750), Sacred & Religious
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 722056213325

Synopsis

Amazon.com essential recording

The talented young Canadian Daniel Taylor is another in the impressive crop of countertenors now coming to prominence. His pure, light voice has a slight vibrato and a natural-sounding timbre; while his lowest notes seem underpowered, his upper range is clear and unconstrained. It's a small voice, certainly, but very likable within its limits. For his solo debut recording, Taylor has selected some of Purcell's best-known songs, including "Music for a while," "O solitude," and "Fairest isle." He has chosen well: these relatively subdued items call for the gentle delivery and musical subtlety that are his strengths without requiring more volume or drama than he can comfortably deliver. Included alongside the songs are several of Purcell's trio sonatas for strings, exquisitely played by the Montreal period-instrument ensemble Da Sonar. The performances' only real flaw is, as it were, an excess of moderation--especially as regards the tempos, which range from moderato to allegro moderato. All in all, though, what this record may lack in excitement it makes up in good taste--very Canadian. --Matthew Westphal

CD Reviews

Superb

hcf | 07/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As far as my personal opinion goes, Daniel Taylor is everything I want in a countertenor. His singing combines a naturally sounding tone, a comfortably wide range, and an uncanny ability to convey emotion. Critics occasionally fault him for not being more dramatic (see, e.g., the editorial review on this page), but to me, Taylor's subtle tools of expression are much more appealing than the more overtly operatic style of some other countertenors. Besides, the absence of operatic drama is irrelevant when it comes to a disc like this one. This CD collects several lyrical (or even melancholy) pieces by Henry Purcell. Taylor's subtlety works very well in this selection. Two pieces are absolute gems: An Evening Hymn (a remarkable combination of a treble-like sound and a mature eloquence), and John Blow's Ode on the death of Purcell (Taylor runs Michael Chance very close in this one!)."