A Purcell Collection / Voces8, Les Inventions
Signum Classics

A Purcell Collection / Voces8, Les Inventions

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Details

Composer
PURCELL, HENRY
Artist
Voces8, Les Inventions
Format
CD
Discs
1
Label
Signum Classics
Released
Apr 29, 2014
Catalog #
SIGCD375
UPC
635212037522

About



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

Tracklist 14 tracks

  1. 1 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem, Z. 46 07:25
    Track
    1
    Title
    Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem, Z. 46
    Duration
    07:25
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    VOCES8, Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  2. 2 Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626, Act I: To the hills and the vales 02:30
    Track
    2
    Title
    Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626, Act I: To the hills and the vales
    Duration
    02:30
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    VOCES8, Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  3. 3 Now does the glorious day appear, Z. 332, "Ode for Queen Mary": By beauteous softness mix'd with majesty 03:34
    Track
    3
    Title
    Now does the glorious day appear, Z. 332, "Ode for Queen Mary": By beauteous softness mix'd with majesty
    Duration
    03:34
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Barnaby Smith
    Ensemble
    Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton
  4. 4 O God, thou art my God, Z. 35 03:51
    Track
    4
    Title
    O God, thou art my God, Z. 35
    Duration
    03:51
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    VOCES8, Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  5. 5 Act IV: How happy the lover 06:19
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act IV: How happy the lover
    Duration
    06:19
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Andrea Haines, Sam Dressel, Dingle Yandell
    Ensemble
    Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  6. 6 Act III: What power art thou, "Cold Song" 04:26
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act III: What power art thou, "Cold Song"
    Duration
    04:26
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Dingle Yandell
    Ensemble
    Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  7. 7 The Prophetess, Z. 627, "The History of Dioclesian", Act V: Masque: Behold, O mighty'st of Gods 03:22
    Track
    7
    Title
    The Prophetess, Z. 627, "The History of Dioclesian", Act V: Masque: Behold, O mighty'st of Gods
    Duration
    03:22
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    VOCES8, Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  8. 8 My heart is inditing, Z. 30 15:03
    Track
    8
    Title
    My heart is inditing, Z. 30
    Duration
    15:03
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    VOCES8, Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  9. 9 Come, ye sons of art away, Z. 323: Bid the Virtues 03:17
    Track
    9
    Title
    Come, ye sons of art away, Z. 323: Bid the Virtues
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Emily Dickens
    Ensemble
    Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  10. 10 Hail, bright Cecilia, Z. 328: Hail! Bright Cecilia, Hail! 04:20
    Track
    10
    Title
    Hail, bright Cecilia, Z. 328: Hail! Bright Cecilia, Hail!
    Duration
    04:20
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    VOCES8, Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  11. 11 Come, ye sons of art away, Z. 323: Strike the Viol 03:55
    Track
    11
    Title
    Come, ye sons of art away, Z. 323: Strike the Viol
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Barnaby Smith
    Ensemble
    Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton
  12. 12 Burial Service, Z. 27: Second Dirge Anthem - Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts 05:09
    Track
    12
    Title
    Burial Service, Z. 27: Second Dirge Anthem - Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts
    Duration
    05:09
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    VOCES8, Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  13. 13 King Arthur, Z. 628, "The British Worthy", Act V: Fairest Isle, all isles excelling 04:40
    Track
    13
    Title
    King Arthur, Z. 628, "The British Worthy", Act V: Fairest Isle, all isles excelling
    Duration
    04:40
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Andrea Haines
    Ensemble
    Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith
  14. 14 The Tempest, Z. 631, "The Enchanted Island", Act III: Full Fathom Five 02:24
    Track
    14
    Title
    The Tempest, Z. 631, "The Enchanted Island", Act III: Full Fathom Five
    Duration
    02:24
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    VOCES8, Les Inventions
    Conductor
    Patrick Ayrton, Barnaby Smith