Search - Henry Purcell, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Paul McCreesh :: Purcell: Harmonia Sacra / McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort and Players

Henry Purcell, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Paul McCreesh
Purcell: Harmonia Sacra / McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort and Players
Genres: Special Interest, Pop, Classical

Track Listings (16) - Disc #1
1. Harmonia Sacra: 'Lord, What Is Man, Lost Man' (Z.192)
2. Harmonia Sacra: 'O Solitude' (Z.406)
3. Harmonia Sacra: 'In The Black, Dismal Dungeon Of Despair' (Z.190)
4. Harmonia Sacra: 'Lord, I Can Suffer Thy Rebukes' (Z.136)
5. Harmonia Sacra: Voluntary In G (Z.720)
6. Harmonia Sacra: 'In Guilty Night' (Z.134)
7. Harmonia Sacra: Voluntary In C (Z.717)
8. Harmonia Sacra: 'Plung'd In The Confines Of Despair' (Z.142)
9. Harmonia Sacra: 'Awake, Ye Dead' (Z.182)
10. Harmonia Sacra: 'The Earth Trembled' (Z.197)
11. Harmonia Sacra: 'My Op'ning Eyes Are Purg'd' (Z.D72)
12. Harmonia Sacra: 'With Sick And Famish'd Eyes' (Z.200)
13. Harmonia Sacra: Ground In C (Z.D221)
14. Harmonia Sacra: 'O, I'm Sick Of Life' (Z.140)
15. Harmonia Sacra: 'Close Thine Eyes' (Z.184)
16. Harmonia Sacra: Funeral Sentences (Z.27)

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CD Details

All Artists: Henry Purcell, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Paul McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort and Players, Timothy Roberts, Paula Chateauneuf, Susan Hemington Jones, Katherine Philips, Fred Jacobs, Tessa Bonner, Peter Harvey, John Patrick, Christopher Purves, Francis Quarles, Simon Berridge
Title: Purcell: Harmonia Sacra / McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort and Players
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Polygram Records
Release Date: 6/13/1995
Genres: Special Interest, Pop, Classical
Styles: Vocal Pop, Opera & Classical Vocal, Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750), Instruments, Strings, Sacred & Religious, Voluntaries
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 028944582925

Synopsis

Amazon.com essential recording

This is one of the finest Purcell discs around, but it isn't one of the most cheerful. It's an anthology of pieces for one to four voices with continuo on spiritual themes--pieces such as "With sick and famish'd eyes," "The earth trembled," "In the black, dismal dungeon of despair," and the famous "O solitude." It really is top-notch Purcell, with much better texts than he usually had to work with, and it's performed to Paul McCreesh's usual high standard, but Baroque-for-Brunch it is not. The highlights are the deeply comforting meditation "Close thine eyes and sleep secure," and the riveting "In guilty night," effectively an eight-minute chamber opera enacting Saul's visit to the Witch of Endor, with a sensational performance by Charles Daniels as Saul. --Matthew Westphal

CD Reviews

Delightful torment

scott | Calgary, Canada | 07/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recital features a selection of songs on sacred or moral texts which are by-and-large solemn and penitent. The mood ranges from vigorous and expectant (in Awake ye dead) to downright miserable and tormented (Plung'd in the confines of despair). There is a lot of quasi-recitative in these songs, and the text is very vividly expressed in the word-painting. Strong talent and technique are required to bring these off successfully, and fortunately we have such an ensemble doing that here.

All of the singers are extremely gifted musicians, but I will have to single out Charles Daniels who, aside from being one of the best early music tenors ever, is one of the best Purcellian singers as well. Here is a full list just so you know about whom I heap my praise:

Sopranos: Tessa Bonner, Susan Hemington Jones.

Tenors: Charles Daniels, Simon Berridge, Julian Podger, Angus Smith.

Basses: Peter Harvey, Chris Purves.

They are supported by a fine continuo group as well.

This is a bit of a rarity, but I think any fancier of Purcell will find this a treasured performance."