Purcell: Odes for St. Cecilia's Day - Music for Queen Mary / Taverner Consort

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Andrew Parrott and his Taverner Consort, Choir, and Players have made some of the finest Purcell recordings to have appeared since the period-instrument revival began; unfortunately, most of those discs had been out of print for years. Happily, Virgin has reissued some of Parrott's best work on this reasonably priced two-for-one release. The performances aren't just exemplary, they're something of a landmark: in them Parrott pioneered the now-standard practice of using high tenors rather than falsettists on some of Purcell's low-lying "countertenor" parts. (One example is "Sound the trumpet," a duet for "high" and "low" countertenors from Purcell's ode Come, ye sons of art, sung by falsettist Timothy Wilson and high tenor John Mark Ainsley.) Excellent performances of the Funeral Sentences and Funeral Music for Queen Mary are here as well, but the centerpiece of this set is Hail, bright Cecilia!, the longest and most colorful of Purcell's odes in praise of the patron saint of music. There is some serious competition here--Paul McCreesh and Philippe Herreweghe have made superb recordings of this work--but Parrott edges them out. For example, alone among the ode's conductors on record, Parrott interpolates an organ solo amidst all of the text's praise of the organ (an instrument St. Cecilia was thought to have invented); he also provides appealing variety by using 12 different soloists (as Purcell did at the premiere). Those soloists are an impressive lot--they include Emma Kirkby, David Thomas, Paul Elliott and Charles Daniels (gently enchanting in the tenor duet "In vain the am'rous Flute"), and the Hilliard Ensemble's Rogers Covey-Crump, who gives an extraordinary rendition of the famous and fearsomely difficult air "'Tis Nature's Voice." --Matthew Westphal

Purcell: Odes for St. Cecilia's Day - Music for Queen Mary / Taverner Consort, Music, Henry Purcell, Emma Kirkby, Charles Daniels, David Thomas, John Mark Ainsley, Michael Chance, Choir & Players Taverner Consort, Roger Covey-Crump, Michael George, Simon Grant, Paul Elliott, Kevin Smith, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Classical Vocals, Funeral Music, Miscellaneous, Non-Mass Liturgical Service, Ode
Purcell: Odes for St. Cecilia's Day - Music for Queen Mary / Taverner Consort
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Unrivalled recording......uncommon brilliance.
  • a voice teacher and early music fan
  • Excellent
  • No Bargain
  • Awesome! A high tenor paradise
 Purcell: Odes for St. Cecilia's Day - Music for Queen Mary / Taverner Consort
Henry Purcell , Emma Kirkby , Charles Daniels , David Thomas , John Mark Ainsley , Michael Chance , Choir & Players Taverner Consort , Roger Covey-Crump , Michael George , Simon Grant , Paul Elliott , and Kevin Smith
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Purcell, HenryPurcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
OdesOdes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Kirkby, EmmaKirkby, Emma | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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  5. Gabrieli · Monteverdi · Vivaldi - Venetian Church Music / Taverner Consort, Choir & Players · Andrew Parrott

ASIN: B00000J2Q8
Release Date: 1999-06-08

Tracks:

  1. Music For Queen Mary: Symphony
  2. Music For Queen Mary: Welcome To All The Pleasures
  3. Music For Queen Mary: Here The Deities Approve - While Joys Celestial
  4. Music For Queen Mary: Then Lift Up Your Voices
  5. Music For Queen Mary: Beauty, Thou Scene of Love
  6. Music For Queen Mary: In A Consort Of Voices
  7. Music For Queen Mary: Man That Is Born Of A Woman
  8. Music For Queen Mary: In The Midst Of Life
  9. Music For Queen Mary: Thou Knowest, Lord
  10. Music For Queen Mary: Symphony (Adagio - Allegro) - Adagio
  11. Music For Queen Mary: Come Ye Sons Of Art
  12. Music For Queen Mary: Sound The Trumpet
  13. Music For Queen Mary: Come Ye Sons Of Art
  14. Music For Queen Mary: Strike The Viol
  15. Music For Queen Mary: The Day That Such A Blessing Gave
  16. Music For Queen Mary: Bid The Virtues
  17. Music For Queen Mary: These Are The Sacred Charms
  18. Music For Queen Mary: See, Nature, Rejoicing
  19. Music For Queen Mary: March
  20. Music For Queen Mary: Thou Knowest, Lord
  21. Music For Queen Mary: Canzona

Tracks:

  1. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: Symphony (Introduction) - Canzona & Adagio - Allegro - Grave - Allegro
  2. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: Hail! Bright Cecilia
  3. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: Hark! Hark! Each Tree
  4. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: 'Tis Nature's Voice
  5. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: Soul Of The World
  6. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: Thou Tun'st This World Below
  7. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: With That Sublime Celestial Lay
  8. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: Voluntary - In D Minor - Wonderous Machine!
  9. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: The Airy Violin
  10. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: In Vain The An'rous Flute
  11. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: The Fife And All The Harmony Of War
  12. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: Let These Amongst Themselves Contest
  13. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: Hail! Bright Cecilia
  14. Odes For St. Cecilia's Day: With Rapture Of Delight - Hail! Bright Cecilia

Amazon.com essential recording

Andrew Parrott and his Taverner Consort, Choir, and Players have made some of the finest Purcell recordings to have appeared since the period-instrument revival began; unfortunately, most of those discs had been out of print for years. Happily, Virgin has reissued some of Parrott's best work on this reasonably priced two-for-one release. The performances aren't just exemplary, they're something of a landmark: in them Parrott pioneered the now-standard practice of using high tenors rather than falsettists on some of Purcell's low-lying "countertenor" parts. (One example is "Sound the trumpet," a duet for "high" and "low" countertenors from Purcell's ode Come, ye sons of art, sung by falsettist Timothy Wilson and high tenor John Mark Ainsley.) Excellent performances of the Funeral Sentences and Funeral Music for Queen Mary are here as well, but the centerpiece of this set is Hail, bright Cecilia!, the longest and most colorful of Purcell's odes in praise of the patron saint of music. There is some serious competition here--Paul McCreesh and Philippe Herreweghe have made superb recordings of this work--but Parrott edges them out. For example, alone among the ode's conductors on record, Parrott interpolates an organ solo amidst all of the text's praise of the organ (an instrument St. Cecilia was thought to have invented); he also provides appealing variety by using 12 different soloists (as Purcell did at the premiere). Those soloists are an impressive lot--they include Emma Kirkby, David Thomas, Paul Elliott and Charles Daniels (gently enchanting in the tenor duet "In vain the am'rous Flute"), and the Hilliard Ensemble's Rogers Covey-Crump, who gives an extraordinary rendition of the famous and fearsomely difficult air "'Tis Nature's Voice." --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Unrivalled recording......uncommon brilliance........2006-11-24

The mind boggles when listening to Purcell. Certainly his was a genius that could vie with any great contrapuntist. It is sad that he had to go so early in his life. But then I guess we wouldn't have seen the rise and rise of Handel.

Having said that, this recording is a marvellous one, one of uncommon brilliance I might add. It does not represent a summary of his work and style, even if restricted to just his vocal music, such was the originality and fertility of his invention. But it is revealing of the enormity of his command of music. Why this composer isn't as well-known as Mozart or Bach, or yes even Handel, I will never know.

I assure all that the quality of these recordings is unrivalled. Careful attention is paid to detail, and a first-rate line up of soloists ensures a world-class performance. I give this recording 5 stars out of five, for a stunning example of excellence and high standards.

3 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-07-29

This is a 2 CD package which involves 2 different recording dates and recording groups. Disc l: Odes "Welcome to all the Pleasures"-"Funeral Sentences"-"Come Ye sons of Art"-"Funeral Music for Queen Mary". The singers on this disc are:Emily Evera(soprano),Timothy Wilson (countertenor),John Mark Ainsley(tenor),Charles Daniels (tenor) and David Thomas (bass). It was recorded in 1988, Disc 2: ode "Hail Bright Cecelia" with singers Emma Kirkby (soprano),Michael Chance , Kevin Smith (countertenors),Paul Elliot, Neil Jenkins, Andrew King (tenors)and Michael George, Richard Wistreich (basses).This disc was recorded in 1985.Contrary to Westphal's opinion, I do not like tenors to be given solos that should be sung by countertenors; the quality of the tenor voice is not light enough for these tunes. Also Disc 1 has it over disc 2 in quality because the singers are better balanced as to skill than on Disc 2; this is most unfortunate because the better soprano (Kirkby) and the better countertenor (Chance)are on Disc 2. I absolutely do not like the sound of Kevin Smith's voice; it is "edgy" and lacks warmth. In fact, it detracts from whatever he sings on the Disc. There are a lot better recordings of these odes by other conductors; try them if you have no recordings of these at all.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2005-12-01

This is an excellent set of performances of these Purcell gems. The soloists, choir, and instrumentalists are all first rate. The infrequently performed funeral and birthday music for Queen Mary is a real treat. Recommended strongly.

1 out of 5 stars No Bargain.......2004-01-23

I agree with the Editorial Review and the comments posted with this release. These are superb recordings of Purcell's great works. But there is a big problem with this package. This is a Virgin Veritas x2 pack. The original recordings have been bundled up in a space saving jewel case and sold at half the price of the originals. Unfortunately, this comes at cost to the potential buyer. Gone is the original artwork, gone are the original notes by Richard Luckett and Eric Van Tassel, and most seriously, gone are the lyrics of these great works. Unless you already own versions of these works that have the lyrics, this is not the place to start. I strongly urge you to acquire these wonderful works in their original editions from Virgin: Hail! Bright Cecilia on disc #45160 and Come ye sons of art on disc #45159 (for some reason, Amazon has these listed under the label EMI). This release is no bargain.

5 out of 5 stars Awesome! A high tenor paradise.......1999-07-22

What a wonderful recording! The lineup of soloists is simply stunning. There are many of them: practically a different person for each air. This achieves admirable variety, and each voice is a pleasure to hear. I'm a big fan of hautes-contre, so I was really happy to discover that they get to sing most of the "alto" airs on this set. The highlight of this recording is my all time favorite Purcell air 'Tis Nature's Voice, stunningly sung here by Rogers Covey-Crump. I think I've heard just about every 'Tis Nature's Voice ever recorded (except for Rene Jacobs, who I wouldn't really want to hear), and Covey-Crump undeniably gets the most out of it. But my favorite remains Mark Padmore on the Herreweghe recording of Hail! Bright Cecilia. Herreweghe uses fewer soloists (Padmore sings all tenor and half of all countertenor parts), and slower tempi that, in my view, help the singers' intonation. But all in all, the choice ends up being a matter of taste. There is no rational basis to prefer one of these two recordings over the other: both are wonderful.

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