Blow: An Ode On The Death Of Mr Henry Purcell and Other Works – Arcangelo Hyperion

For many, getting to know these pieces will be persuasion enough, but the performances complete the seduction with their expert playing and singing, vigorous but tastefully realised sense of style and … firmly shaped contours and effective illustrative touches … with a recording that is wonderfully clear and alive, everything seems to be going right for Jonathan Cohen at present’ (Gramophone)

‘In Samuel Boden and Thomas Walker, director Jonathan Cohen has harnessed a quintessentially English sound whose lyricism fits the vocal writing like a glove … throughout, the instrumental contribution is a joy; Cohen’s direction a model of stylish empathy and suavely-negotiated gear changes’ (BBC Music Magazine)

Begin the Song![22’08]
1
Overture[1’54]
2
Begin the Song! your instruments advance –[2’33]
Samuel Boden (tenor)
3
Bring gentlest thoughts, that into language glide[2’56]
Thomas Walker (tenor)
4
Hark how the waken’d strings resound[3’05]
Samuel Boden (tenor), Thomas Walker (tenor)
5
By harmony’s entrancing power[2’32]
Thomas Walker (tenor)
6
How dull were life, how hardly worth our care –[1’41]
William Gaunt (bass), Zoë Brookshaw (soprano)
7
Without the sweets of melody[2’31]
Thomas Walker (tenor)
8
Music’s the cordial of a troubled breast[3’38]
Callum Thorpe (bass)
9
Come then, with tuneful breath and string[1’18]
10
Chaconne a 4 in G major[5’08]
An Ode on the Death of Mr Henry Purcell[19’50]
Thomas Walker (tenor), Samuel Boden (tenor)
11
Mark how the lark and linnet sing –[3’38]
12
But in the close of night –[3’54]
13
So ceas’d the rival crew when Purcell came –[2’43]
14
We beg not hell our Orpheus to restore –[1’55]
15
The power of harmony too well they know[2’35]
16
The heavenly choir, who heard his notes from high –[3’03]
17
Ye brethren of the lyre, and tuneful voice[2’02]
18
Ground in G minor[4’14]
The Nymphs of the wells[10’27]
19
The Nymphs of the wells, and the Nymphs of the hills[2’46]
Samuel Boden (tenor), Thomas Walker (tenor)
20
But here comes a Druid and we must retire –[2’09]
Emma Walshe (soprano), Zoë Brookshaw (soprano)
21
Blest be this morn, blest be the hand –[4’12]
William Gaunt (bass), Samuel Boden (tenor)
22
We Nymphs of the founts and we of the mounts[1’20]
Sonata in A major[5’43]
23
Slow –[2’26]
24
[untitled] –[1’12]
25
Brisk[2’05]
Dread Sir, the Prince of Light[8’52]
William Gaunt (bass), Samuel Boden (tenor), Thomas Walker (tenor)
26
[Symphony] –[1’53]
27
Dread Sir, the Prince of Light begins to rise –[1’22]
28
Let no disloyal cares his peace destroy –[2’09]
29
This message we bring[3’28]

An album of music for the connoisseur—of extraordinary singing as much as of the English Baroque. This wonderful recital ranges widely across Blow’s vocal and instrumental music, Arcangelo again demonstrating their versatility in repertoire which will be a real discovery for many.