A Purcell Collection / Voces8, Les Inventions

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PURCELL Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. To the Hills and Vales. By the Beauteous Softness Mix’d with Majesty. O God, Thou art my God. How Happy the Lover. What Power Thou Art. Behold, O Mightiest of Gods. My Heart is Inditing of a Good Matter. Bid the Virtues. Hail! Bright Cecilia. Strike the Viol. Thou Knowest Lord the Secrets of Our Hearts. Fairest Isle. Full Fathom Five • Voces8; Les Inventions; Andrea Haines, Emily Dickens (s); Barnaby Smith (ct); Samuel Dressel (t); Dingle Yandell (bs) • SIGNUM 2975 (70:18)


Voces8 is an (of course) eight-member group whose repertoire ranges from “Renaissance polyphony to unique jazz and pop arrangements.” Here they are joined with the distinguished French-based instrumental group Les Inventions. Together they have put together a kind of anthology of Purcell’s music that they charmingly describe as a stroll through his world. It’s more than that. We hear a particularly lovely rendition by the voices of Purcell’s unaccompanied dirge Thou Knowest, Lord, a gracious performance by countertenor Barnaby Smith of Purcell’s praise for Queen Mary, By Beauteous Softness Mix’d with Majesty (with a text by the oft-reviled Thomas Shadwell), and a comical What Power Thou Art. In this piece, nicknamed The Cold Song, bass Dingle Yandell impersonates the spirit of Britain being reluctantly awakened from a frosty slumber. One can virtually hear his teeth chatter. The choral pieces are just as effective, and the instrumental playing, including the oboe obbligato in Bid the Virtues, is lovely as well. There is spirit here when it is called for, and pathos as well. Although such definitive pieces as “Dido’s Lament” are not here, this collection would be an excellent introduction to Purcell as a reminder of his range for those whose know him well.


FANFARE: Michael Ullman


Product Description:

  • Release Date: April 29, 2014


  • Catalog Number: SIGCD375


  • UPC: 635212037522


  • Label: Signum Classics


  • Number of Discs: 1


  • Composer: Henry Purcell


  • Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  • Orchestra/Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8


  • Performer: Andrea Haines, Barnaby Smith, Dingle Yabdell, Emily Dickens, Sam Dressel



Works:

  1. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem, Z 46

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  2. Now Does the Glorious Day Appear: By Beauteous Softness Mix'd with Majesty

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Performer: Barnaby Smith

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  3. O God, thou art my God, Z 35

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  4. King Arthur: Cold Song (What Power Art Thou...)

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Performer: Dingle Yabdell

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  5. The Prophetess: Behold, O Mightiest of Gods

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  6. My heart is inditing, Z 30

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  7. King Arthur: Fairest Isle

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Performer: Andrea Haines

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  8. Dido & Aeneas: To the Hills and the Vales

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  9. King Arthur: How Happy the Lover

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Performer: Sam Dressel, Andrea Haines, Dingle Yabdell

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  10. Come Ye Sons of Art: Bid the Virtues

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Performer: Emily Dickens

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  11. Ode to St. Cecilia: Hail! Bright Cecilia

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  12. Come Ye Sons of Art: Strike the viol

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Performer: Barnaby Smith

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  13. Work(s): Second Dirge Anthem / Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton


  14. The Tempest: Full Fathom Five

    Composer: Henry Purcell

    Ensemble: Les Inventions, Voces8

    Conductor: Patrick Ayrton