Purcell: Voluntary in G major, Z720

The Choir of Westminster Abbey under their inspirational director James O’Donnell delve into the Abbey’s vaults for this latest fascinating disc.

The triumphant mood of the Restoration required much glorious liturgical music, and the Abbey was home to some of the greatest composers and performers of the age. This recording presents music likely to have been sung by—and in some cases, almost certain to have been written for—the Choir of Westminster Abbey during the late 1670s and early 1680s. They sing four canticles from the compendious Service in B flat by Henry Purcell, together with psalmody in reconstructed contemporary style, and anthems and motets by Purcell and his contemporary John Blow, who famously both preceded and succeeded Purcell as Organist of the Abbey.

Originally published in 1958: reissued on CD in 1994 by arrangement with EMI.

Playing time 64:34 - Mono Recording.

It was as a chorister at Peterborough Cathedral, under the direction of Christopher Gower, that Robert Costin's passion for choral, organ and keyboard music in general was first awakened. He went to Pembroke College, Cambridge, having been awarded an organ scholarship and studied with David Sanger whilst reading a music degree. Robert Costin’s recital venues in recent years have included King's College, Cambridge, Westminster Abbey and St.Paul's Cathedral.

The first recording of the historic 1723 Abraham Jordan organ in St George’s Church, Southall, completely restored to its original specification by Mander Organs in 2009.

One of only a handful of instruments surviving from this period in the UK, this delightful early eighteenth-century organ has a surprising wealth of colour and characteristic sonorities, including one of the world’s earliest examples of a ‘swelling organ’.

Critically-acclaimed organist, William Whitehead, presents a broad survey of Restoration and Georgian English organ music appropriate to the restored instrument, and includes many works new to the catalogue.

On this CD, Robin Walker performs works by Byrd, Bull, Gibbons, Tomkins, Purcell and Blow on the organ of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, London. The instrument reflects its life over the last two and a half centuries and is suitable for a wide range of repertoire. Robin enjoys a busy and varied musical career as performer, conductor, teacher and church musician.

Recording made in 1994.

Gramophone magazine ‘Editor’s Choice’ in July 1995.

2009 is the 350th anniversary of Purcell’s birth, and his music will be the focus of much attention in the media and in live performance.

Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort are supreme in this repertoire.

Purcell was not just a creature of the theatre – his genius with the human voice extended to secular songs and Odes for Queen Mary. Less familiar are his sacred songs. Although some appeared in John Playford’s Harmonia Sacra of 1688 and 1693, many remained in manuscript and known only to a select few. There is some credence to the thought that Purcell intended them for an elite group. The choice of text is fastidious, and probably points towards a discerning friend in the court musical circles. For example, the metaphysical poets were out of fashion at this time, but whoever Purcell’s intended audience was, such poets remained a firm favourite for the composer. Other texts are by his contemporaries at court, lavished with as much care and attention as the settings from the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. The settings are scored for small forces – one to two voices, accompanied by continuo. The emotional range, however, is huge, with contemplative and introspective songs rubbing shoulders with numbers such as ‘O, I’m sick of life’, where the singer rails against a cruel avenging God. In the setting ‘In guilty night’ or ‘Saul and the Witch of Endor’, you can sense the world of opera is never far away. This recording intersperses the sacred songs with organ works – Purcell was one of the most brilliant organists of his day, but surprisingly he only left about six works for the instrument.