purcell...

Posted by: ken c on 01 March 2002

i have grown to like this kind of music -- have a number of "complete odes and welcome songs" -- which i play quite often. another that visits the cd player quite often is "mr henry purcell's most admirable composures" ...

and oh, "countertenor duets" purcell and blow (his teacher?) is very good indeed. i have a number of blow compositions as well...

any purcellians (?) out there??

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 01 March 2002 by Jez Quigley

Is this the same one that wrote 'music for queen anne's funeral'? - later used as the theme for 'a clockwork orange'.

Posted on: 02 March 2002 by Former member

I encountered him round about the same time as later baroque, and I'm afraid he lost out big time - I ended up with a couple of feet of choral/operatic Handel, and all his instrumental works bar a few...

Still, I love Dido and Aeneas (English Concert), Fairy Queen (Les Arts Florissants), the usual famous Odes and his Sonnatas (Purcell Quartet).

Do you have (I think it's called something like) The Yorkshire Feast Ode? I'm sure I read somewhere that Michael Nyman lifted a theme from it for The Draughtsman's Contract.

Posted on: 02 March 2002 by ken c

Do you have (I think it's called something like) The Yorkshire Feast Ode?

the yorkshire feast song??? -- a very good cd too. mine is on the hyperion label, like most of my classical is...

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 03 March 2002 by shazbut

I have a 6cd set of his Theatre Music,which to be honest is about 3 cd's too many,but it does contain some lovely tunes and songs.

My favourite is Abeldazer,partly because I remember it from when I was a child.I have a vague memory that it was used as a theme for a children's serial on TV (late '50s early '60s),but I could be wrong as it was the theme Britten used for Young Person's Guide... and I may remember it from that.

Posted on: 03 March 2002 by ken c

My favourite is Abeldazer,partly because I remember it from when I was a child..

shazbut, just what music should do, take you to a time and place. i dont have this Abeldazer? what is it?

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 03 March 2002 by Former member

quote:
Originally posted by shazbut:
I have a 6cd set of his Theatre Music,which to be honest is about 3 cd's too many,but it does contain some lovely tunes and songs.

Six! Gulp. Who's versions?

Ken, Abdelazer is undoubtedly Purcell's greatest hit single. The sort of thing that, when you hear it, you say "Oh that!"

Posted on: 03 March 2002 by shazbut

Nick

The 6cd set is Academy of Ancient Music,analogue recordings from the late '70s.

Ken

Although I prefer the above recording,I also have a single cd Ayres for the Theatre by The Parley of Instruments on Hyperion a digital recording from 1986.It's purely instrumental,but is quite a nice selection of stuff.

Abeldazer and the other pieces are the film soundtracks of their day,providing (often melo)dramatic music to enhance plays of the period,and to sell more tickets.

I agree with Nick,s recommendations,although I have different versions - Fairy Queen by John Eliot Gardiner (light but magical) and Dido and Aeneas with Jessye Norman (suitably mournful).Happy shopping,
Shazbut

Posted on: 07 March 2002 by man2wolf

I find Purcell best in smaller doses. To this end I can highly recommend "Essential Purcell" by Robert King/Kings Consort (Hyperion KING2)- widely available and a steal at around £5. The performances/recordings are generally top notch. I particularly like "Oh, fair Cedaria sung by Barbara Bonney.

Posted on: 07 March 2002 by ken c

quote:
Originally posted by man2wolf:
I find Purcell best in smaller doses. To this end I can highly recommend "Essential Purcell" by Robert King/Kings Consort (Hyperion KING2)- widely available and a steal at around £5. The performances/recordings are generally top notch. I particularly like "Oh, fair Cedaria sung by Barbara Bonney.

i already have this record (most of my purcell are on the hyperion label). i have such a large collection of records that i am forced to play each only every now and then. but its always nice to play purcell after a while...

i often wonder why i keep buying records when this reduces the chance that i will fully explore and enjoy them. diminishing returns??

enjoy...

ken