Search - Henry Purcell, Robert King, James Bowman :: Purcell: Complete Odes & Welcome Songs, Vol 4 /Fisher * Bonner * Bowman * Kenny * Covey-Crump * C Daniels * George * Pott * King's Consort * King

Just the way Purcell wanted it

hcf | 01/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first ode on this CD - Ye tuneful muses, was composed in 1686. It combines several characteristical features of Purcell's style: vocal numbers over a ground bass followed by imitative choruses and string ritornelli, and daringly low ranges for bass solos. The ode even includes an ingenious interpretation of a street song. The presentation here, as on the rest of the volumes in this series, is trim: the small numbers of singers and instrumentalists are believed to be historically accurate. The next ode - Celestial music did the gods inspire - was commissioned in 1689 for the performance at one of London's schools (Dido and Aeneas was written in the same year, but for a different school). The best moment is the alto solo accompanied by two recorders. The final ode - From hardy climes (written to celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Denmark - is that a "hardy clime?"), opens with a beautiful symphony, full of inventive string writing. Among several vocal solos is one of the most beautiful Purcell melodies - The sparrow and the gentle dove, meltingly sung by Charles Daniels."