Visions of the Renaissance

1. Fancy á 5
Composed by Giovanni Coprario
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

2. Sonata à tre, for 2 violins, cello & continuo No. 5 in G major, T. So 24
Composed by Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

3. Chorale prelude for organ ("Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig"), BWV 644
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

4. Die Kunst der Fuge (Art of the Fugue), BWV 1080 Contrapunctus 10
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

5. Fancie a 5 for brass
Composed by Giovanni Coprario
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

6. Sonata for keyboard in D major, K. 96 (L. 465) "La caccia"
Composed by Domenico Scarlatti
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

7. Israelis Brünlein, No. 5 "Dennoch bleibe ich stets an Dir"
Composed by Johann Hermann Schein
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

8. Israelis Brünlein, No. 17 "Herr, lass meine Klage"
Composed by Johann Hermann Schein
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

9. Israelis Brünlein, No. 3 "Die mit Tränen saen"
Composed by Johann Hermann Schein
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

10. Mille volte il dí moro, madrigal for 5 voices (Book 6), W. 6/33
Composed by Carlo Gesualdo
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

11. Chorale prelude for organ ("Das alte Jahr vergangen ist"), BWV 614
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

12. Die Kunst der Fuge (Art of the Fugue), BWV 1080 Contrapunctus 3
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

13. Fantasia a 2 for 2 Trumpets
Composed by Orlando Gibbons
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

14. Io pur respiro in cosí gran dolore, madrigal for 5 voices (Book 6), W. 6/29
Composed by Carlo Gesualdo
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

15. Cantata No. 60, "O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort," BWV 60 Chorale: Es ist genug
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

16. Die Kunst der Fuge (Art of the Fugue), BWV 1080 Contrapunctus 11
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

17. Beltà, poi che t'assenti, madrigal for 5 voices (Book 6), W. 6/16
Composed by Carlo Gesualdo
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

18. Fantasia a 3 for 2 trumpets and trombone
Composed by Orlando Gibbons
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

19. Die Kunst der Fuge (Art of the Fugue), BWV 1080 Contrapunctus 1
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

20. Work(s) Unspecified Fantasie arranged for brass quintet
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Meridian Arts Ensemble

Amazon.com

George II's coronation, which is depicted on this Hyperion two-CD set, took place in 1727 amid chaotic circumstances, and it's hard to know how much of the surviving documentation indicates what actually happened as against what was meant to happen. So Robert King's musical recreation of the event is inevitably a mixture of scholarship and speculation, throwing in items from past coronation ceremonies (like Purcell's I was glad) on challengeable evidence. But never mind. If you take this exercise in broad terms--and you should--it's brilliantly effective, with clear, sharp-edged performances of the four coronation anthems (including Zadok the Priest) that Handel definitely did write for the event. Along with that is what would in 1727 have been old music by Tallis, Gibbons, and Blow, plus spatial sound effects of grand processions, fanfares, shouts of acclamation, and the bells of London, all recorded in rural locations west of Swindon, because the real thing is drowned out these days by 21st-century traffic noise. One reservation: it's all a touch staid with overly stately tempi and less atmosphere than it could happily sustain. You just don't believe it's happening in Westminster Abbey (nor is it: most of the material was recorded in a Lutyens church in Hampstead Garden Suburb, north London). Also, over two CDs, the endless trumpet fanfares get a little wearing. But that's probably authentic. And since the second CD comes free, there's nothing to complain about. --Michael White

Customer Reviews:

Thumbs up for King's Consort!!.......2002-03-01

Well, this is just fascinating! Absolutely fascinating! (Sorry for repeating myself, it's a point that I just cannot seem to stress enough!! lol)

Of course, I'm a little biased too, towards the content of this compilation (being a monarchist), yet the musical and historical value of such a recording cannot be effectively conveyed in words. I will admit that I am only vaguely familiar with the sound of the king's consort choir and orchestra, but as they say, first impressions last, and this was a great first impression.

I am usually quite partial to the recordings of the King's college choir, but the King's consort choir has certainly proved an unbelieveable equality to me, with little of the usual vibrato in the high soprano lines, that tend to get on my nerves.

Of particular interest, are the coronation anthems, that Handel actually composed for the purpose of this very coronation. They are all wonderfully portrayed in all their splendour and grandeur, and yes, with a blaze of Handelian glory. They are all enjoyable to listen to, with the typical lyricism and melodious writings of Handels pen.

More unfamiliar, are anthems composed for earlier coronations and incorporated into the service for King George II. This is a great insight to the earlier styles of the renaissance anthem writing. At times they do seem to anticipate choral masterpieces of a later 'baroque' generation.