Album Description

King Charles II liked to project a strong, stable, divinely legitimated image. Whilst that image had no basis in reality, the scale of his deception and financial skulduggery did not emerge until 19th-century historians discovered secret treaty documents between Charles and King Louis XIV of France. Purcell had no idea of course, and so all of the music on this album celebrates the political triumphs that he and his colleagues thought they had witnessed. It includes the quite brilliant Welcome Songs 'Welcome to all the pleasures' (with its superb six-part fanfares to St Cecilia in the final chorus) and 'From hardy climes'.

Artists

The Sixteen
Harry Christophers

Track Listing

Henry Purcell (1659-95)

1. Hear my prayer, O Lord Z15

2. O solitude, my sweetest choice Z406

3. Lord, how long wilt Thou be angry Z25

4. Pavan of Four Parts in G minor Z752

5. Plung'd in the confines of despair Z142

WELCOME SONG: Welcome to all the pleasures Z339
6. Symphony
7. Welcome to all the pleasures
8. Here the deities approve
9. While joys celestial
10. Beauty, thou scene of love
11. In a consort of voices

12. In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust Z16

13. From silent shades and the Elysian groves Z370

14. Catch: Of all the instruments that are Z263

WELCOME SONG: From hardy climes and dangerous toils of war Z325
15. Symphony
16. From hardy climes
17. As fame, great Sir
18. Wake then, my muse!
19. The sparrow and the gentle dove
20. So all the boons

Total Running Time:   72.27