The Purcell Thread

[Thropplenoggin]

A thread to discuss recordings old and new of HP.

I know some of his works (Dido & Aeneas (Hogwood/AAM), Funeral Music for Queen Mary(Gardiner)) but spent this morning listening to songs and the Ode to St. Cecilia.

In some songs, such as 'O, Solitude', I found the counter-tenor Gerard Lesne to be more to my taste than the soprano Emma Kirkby, though in others like 'Sweeter than Roses' I preferred the latter.

O, Solitude collection (Naive) for £8.75 at Presto and streamable here: http://player.qobuz.com/#!/album/0822189000592

Ode to St. Cecilia is new to me, and I was struck by how modern the music sounds (sections such as 'Soul of the World', 'Thou tun'st this world') I listened to Mccreesh/Gabrieli Consort & Players, their singing being much easier on the ear than that of Marc Minkowski's ensemble.

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Could someone tell me why on some versions of The Plaint from The Fairy Queen there is a wind instrument obbligato, on others a stringed instrument (Gardiner).

[richardfinegold]

[QUOTE=Thropplenoggin;301184]A thread to discuss recordings old and new of HP.

I know some of his works (Dido & Aeneas (Hogwood/AAM), Funeral Music for Queen Mary(Gardiner)) but spent this morning listening to songs and the Ode to St. Cecilia.

In some songs, such as 'O, Solitude', I found the counter-tenor Gerard Lesne to be more to my taste than the soprano Emma Kirkby, though in others like 'Sweeter than Roses' I preferred the latter.

O, Solitude collection (Naive) for £8.75 at Presto and streamable here: http://player.qobuz.com/#!/album/0822189000592

Ode to St. Cecilia is new to me, and I was struck by how modern the music sounds (sections such as 'Soul of the World', 'Thou tun'st this world') I listened to Mccreesh/Gabrieli Consort & Players, their singing being much easier on the ear than that of Marc Minkowski's ensemble.

--

Could someone tell me why on some versions of The Plaint from The Fairy Queen there is a wind instrument obbligato, on others a stringed instrument (Gardiner).[/QUOTE

Sound The Trumpets! Birthday Music For Queen Mary--try the David Munrow recording, which is iconic. If you like the Viol Fantasies, try Jordi Savall.

[MickyD]

This is a very nice twofer from Virgin, featuring some of the more famous odes and the Queen Mary funeral music in good performances from the Taverner Consort and Andrew Parrott.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Purcell-Cecilias-Taverner-Consort-Players/dp/B00000J2Q8/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1370431357&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=purcell+parrott

and this is another cheapish twofer from Archiv, with choral music performed by Christ Church and Simon Preston:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Purcell-Cecilias-Taverner-Consort-Players/dp/B00000J2Q8/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1370431357&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=purcell+parrott

[Nick Armstrong]

cheapish twofer from Archiv, with choral music performed by Christ Church and Simon Preston:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Purcell-Ceci...urcell+parrott

I think this is the link you meant: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Purcell-Chor...church+purcell

Love this set - got it when it first came out, the choral sound is a delight

[Thropplenoggin]

Thanks to MickyD and Calipash for this suggestion - listening now and it's opening up a whole new Purcell world for me.

[BBMmk2]

Chris Hogwood's set of HP's Theatre music is a must for any fan oif Purcell!

Christ Church Cathedral Choir's box set of his church music, under Simon Preston is a must as well!

[MickyD]

I think this is the link you meant: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Purcell-Chor...church+purcell

Love this set - got it when it first came out, the choral sound is a delight

Oh dear, thanks Caliban..sorry, the brain cells are not firing this afternoon! Yes, that is exactly the set I meant, a really vintage recording from Preston.

But Brassbandmaestro, do you not mean the box set of all the Purcell anthems in the big box from Robert King on Hyperion?

I agree with you over the Hogwood theatre music set - it's great stuff. I am particularly fond of the vicious spat between two housewives played by Judith Nelson and Emma Kirkby "You lie you bitch, you've got the itch!" Nice to hear the earthier sound of Purcell.

[doversoul1]

…and some instrumental works

Twelve Sonatas of three parts (1683)
Retrospect Trio

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Linn/CKD374#listen

Purcell: The complete Fantazias
Fretwork

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Harmonia%2BMundi/HMU907502

Purcell - Chamber Music
London Baroque, Charles Medlam

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Harmonia%2BMundi/HMA1951327

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

…and some instrumental works

Twelve Sonatas of three parts (1683)
Retrospect Trio
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Linn/CKD374#listen

I don't know these performances. Thanks for the "nudge", dovers.

Purcell: The complete Fantazias
Fretwork
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/H...undi/HMU907502

These are very good, but even so I prefer the Jordi Savall set mentioned in the OP.

Purcell - Chamber Music
London Baroque, Charles Medlam
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/H...ndi/HMA1951327

I do know this disc - it's one of my favourite discs of Purcell's Music.

[BBMmk2]

I don't know these performances. Thanks for the "nudge", dovers.


These are very good, but even so I prefer the Jordi Savall set mentioned in the OP.


I do know this disc - it's one of my favourite discs of Purcell's Music.

Hi MickyD, just seen it, and its a two-cder. on DG.

[silvestrione]

Hmm...Thropplenoggin's threads always prove expensive.

[Thropplenoggin]

Hmm...Thropplenoggin's threads always prove expensive.

Just about to give the new Vox Luminis disc a spin on Qobuz: Purcell, Morley & Tomkins: English Royal Funeral Music. Perfect for a sunny June day. It was well received in this month's Grimmerophone.