Purcell's Contemporaries

Episodes

SeriesEpisodeFirst
Broadcast
RepeatedComments
2007012007110520091116 (R3)Donald Macleod introduces the composers of Restoration England who, from today's perspective, stand in the shadow of the greatest of the era, Henry Purcell.

Purcell, arr. CH Trevor: Trumpet Tune

Simon Preston (organ)

DECCA 430 091-2 Tr 7

John Blow: Salvator Mundi

Alastair Ross (organ)

Monteverdi Choir

John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)

ERATO 2292-45987-2 Tr 5

John Blow: An ode on the death of Mr Henry Purcell

Gerard Lesne, Steve Dugardin (countertenor)

La canzona

VIRGIN VERITAS 545342 2 Tr 13

Henry Lawes, arr. Gant: Zadok, the Priest

The Choir of the Chapel Royal

The Musicians Extra-Ordinary

Andrew Gant (director)

SIGCD094 Tr 6

Albertus Bryne: Suite in A minor

Terence Charlston (harpsichord)

DEUX-ELLES DXL1124 Trs 2-6

William Child: O Lord, grant the King a long life

Jeremy Bines (organ)

Choir of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge

Geoffrey Webber (director)

ASV DIGITAL CD GAU 182 Tr 11

William Child: The earth is the Lord's

Andrew Arthur (organ)

ASV DIGITAL CD GAU 182 Tr 13

William Child: Holy, holy, holy

ASV DIGITAL CD GAU 182 Tr 19.

Donald Macleod introduces the composers of Restoration England.

2007022007110620091117 (R3)Donald Macleod surveys the brilliant generation of composers that first emerged as choristers at the Chapel Royal after the Restoration, including a musical spy and a heartbroken composer who shot himself on the toss of a coin.

Purcell: Hear my prayer

Alastair Ross (organ)

Monteverdi Choir

John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)

ERATO 2292-45987-2 Tr 6

John Blow: No, Lesbia, you ask in vain (Elegy on the death of Queen Mary)

John Mark Ainsley (tenor)

Paula Chateauneuf (theorbo)

Timothy Roberts (chamber organ)

HYPERION CDA66646 Tr 18

Matthew Locke: Be thou exalted, Lord

Choir of New College, Oxford

The Parley of Instruments

Edward Higginbottom (conductor)

HYPERION CDA66373 Tr 8

Pelham Humfrey: O Lord my God

Charles Brett (countertenor)

Martyn Hill (tenor)

David Thomas (bass)

Michael Lewin (lute)

Marilyn Samson (cello)

English Baroque Soloists

ERATO 2292-45987-2 Tr 7

John Blow: I was glad when they said unto me

Robin Blaze, Ashley Stafford (countertenors)

Mark Le Brocq (tenor)

Andrew Dale Forbes (bass)

Rogers Covey-Crump (high tenor)

Choir of St Paul's Cathedral

John Scott (conductor)

HYPERION CDA67009 Trs 16-20

Jeremiah Clarke, arr. Simon Preston: Prince of Denmark's March

Simon Preston (organ)

DECCA 430 091-2 Tr 5.

Donald Macleod surveys the composers who emerged as choristers at the Chapel Royal.

2007032007110720091118 (R3)Secular music also flourished in the English Restoration court as music was placed increasingly high up the list of royal entertainment. Donald Macleod surveys the requirements placed on the composers to the royal family, including a talented Catalan violinist who enraged his contemporaries for his poor use of English.

Purcell: When I am laid in earth (Dido and Aeneas)

Veronique Gens (soprano)

Les Arts Florissants

William Christie (director)

ERATO 4509-98477-2 Tr 25

John Blow: Venus and Adonis (Act 3)

Rosemary Joshua (soprano)

Gerald Finley (baritone)

Clare College Chapel Choir

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Rene Jacobs (director)

HARMONIA MUNDI HMX 2901684 Trs 24-27

Poems set by Henry Lawes, William Lawes, Francesco Corbetta and John Wilson from Henry Lawes' Select Ayres and Dialogues

Paul Hillier (singer)

Nigel North (lute/theorbo/guitar)

HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 907257 Trs 16-26

Louis Grabu: Suite in G (Incidental music from Act 3 of Rochester's play Valentinian)

The Parley of Instruments Renaissance Violin Band

Peter Holman (conductor)

HYPERION CDA66667 Trs 41-46.

Donald Macleod surveys the requirements placed on composers to the royal family.

2007042007110820091119 (R3)Donald Macleod investigates the increasing importance of music away from the English Restoration court, including a booming publishing industry and the growth of public concerts.

Purcell: Sonata XX in D

London Baroque

BIS BIS-CD-1455 Trs 27-31

Matthew Locke: Suite No 5 (Consort of Four Parts)

Fretwork

VIRGIN VERITAS 545142 2 Trs 29-32

John Blow: What is't to us?

Philip Langridge (tenor)

David Owen Norris (harpsichord)

Jennifer Langridge (cello)

SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD101 Tr 15

William Croft: How severe is my fate

SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD101 Tr 3

Daniel Purcell: Cupid, make your virgins tender

SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD101 Tr 16

John Eccles: Belinda

SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD101 Tr 5

John Jenkins: Fantasia a 3

BIS BIS-CD-1455 Tr 12

Pelham Humfrey: A Hymn to God the Father

Mark Chambers (countertenor)

DEUX-ELLES DXL 911 Tr 8

John Blow: Quam diligo legem tuam

Ryland Angel, Mark Chambers (countertenors)

DEUX-ELLES DXL 911 Tr 14

Christopher Simpson: Suite in D

BIS BIS-CD-1455 Trs 17-22.

Donald Macleod explores the increasing importance of music away from the court.

200705 LAST2007110920091120 (R3)Concluding his survey of the music of Purcell's day, Donald Macleod looks at the composers who contributed to London's theatre scene in what was a short career for English opera in the second half of the 17th century.

Purcell: Fairest Isle (King Arthur)

The Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra

Roy Goodman (director)

HYPERION CDA67001 CD1 Tr 13

Daniel Purcell: O ravishing delight (The Judgement of Paris)

Ryland Angel (countertenor)

Laurence Cummings (harpsichord)

DEUX-ELLES DXL 911 Tr 11

John Eccles: Can life be a blessing? (Troilus and Cressida)

Catherine Bott (soprano)

Peter Holman (conductor)

HYPERION CDA67450 Tr 4

John Blow: Lovely Selina, innocent and free (The Princess of Cleve)

John Mark Ainsley (tenor)

Timothy Roberts (spinet)

Paula Chateauneuf (baroque guitar)

HYPERION CDA66646 Tr 4

John Weldon: Dry those eyes which are o'erflowing (The Tempest)

Matthew Locke: Psyche (Act 3)

Vulcan and Mars - Paul Agnew (tenor)

Pyracmon, first cyclops - Christopher Robson (countertenor)

Brontes, second cyclops - Michael George (bass)

Steropes, third cyclops - Simon Grant (bass)

Harpes, fourth cyclops - Julian Podger (tenor)

Praesul - Andrew King (tenor)

Venus - Catherine Bott (soprano)

New London Consort

Philip Pickett (conductor)

L'OISEAU-LYRE 444 336-2 Trs 13-20

William Croft: Ayres in the Comedy of Courtship A La Mode

MERIDIAN CDE 84234 Tr 7.

Donald Macleod on those who contributed to London's theatre scene in the 17th century.