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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Music from the reign of King James I
Westminster Abbey has been the focus of British royal occasions for centuries, and the early seventeenth century saw the most dazzling musicians of the age writing music for the Court in all its various incarnations. This fascinating disc presents a selection of works from the reign of King James I. The most celebrated name on this disc is that of Orlando Gibbons, and some of his most masterly works are presented here including the gloriously contrapuntal O clap your hands and the startlingly original verse anthem See, see, the Word is incarnate, setting an extraordinary text which covers the whole of the liturgical year. The most eloquent and emotionally intense music recorded here was most likely never intended for performance in the Abbey, or any other church, but has a particularly Royal relevance. The laments of King David were set by many composers of this period. These moving texts have no place in the liturgy, being neither part of the Ordinary of Psalms and canticles, nor able to furnish a seasonally appropriate or devotional anthem. Their composition seems therefore to have been a response to the death in November 1612 of the Prince of Wales, Prince Henry. These are courtly laments, in which the composers give voice – and perhaps vied to give voice most eloquently – to the grief of the King (in the settings of David’s lament for his son Absalom) and Prince Charles (in the ‘Jonathan’ pieces, in which the king describes his friend as ‘my brother’). Included is the best known of all the ‘Absalom’ pieces, Tomkins’s When David heard, together with his equally moving ‘Jonathan’ setting, Then David mourned. “Where words and music most happily merge - for instance in Gibbons's Hosanna to the Son of David - the director and his vocalists exude confidence, animating melodic lines gracefully to reach a satisfying climax. In the largely contrapuntal O clap your hands, O'Donnell's deft handling of voices brings a lovely delicacy to the texture.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2011 *** “The hero of the disc is...the Abbey's sub-organist Robert Quinney...Stylish, tastefully registered and crisply delivered [the four Gibbons organ pieces] are in their way true gems...many choirs would envy the tight ensemble, impeccable intonation and crystal-clear diction, not to mention the unfailingly excellent solo voices drawn from the ranks of the choir” International Record Review, March 2011 “The laments by Tomkins and Ramsey, and Gibbons's "O Lord, in thy wrath", all sung unaccompanied, are moving in their intensity...this recording should be snapped up by all lovers of the period.” Gramophone Magazine, April 2011 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | The Excellent art of Voluntary (Early English Organ Music)Early English Organ Music from Pembroke College, Cambridge
Robert Costin (organ of Pembroke College) 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. | | | This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched. |
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| |  | The Power of Music
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| |  | Byrdland
Byrd: | Ye sacred muses - an elegy for Thomas Tallis Lullaby, my sweet little baby Come to me, grief, for ever I Thought That Love Had Been A Boy Crowned with flow'rs and lilies | Danyel: | The Leaves Be Greene | Dowland: | Can she excuse my wrongs? (First Booke of Songes, 1597) Now, O now, I needs must part Flow my teares (Lacrimæ) Fine knacks for ladies In darkness let me dwell | Galilei, V: | La Volta | Gibbons, O: | The Silver Swan Fantasia of four parts | Holborne: | The Fairie-round Galliard | Morley: | April is in My Mistress' Face | Playford: | Under The Greenwood Tree The Indian Queen | Purcell: | If love's a sweet passion (from The Fairy Queen, Z628) Fairest Isle (from King Arthur) Man is for the woman made (from The Mock Marriage, Z605) Dance for the Haymakers (from The Fairy Queen, Z628) An Evening Hymn 'Now that the sun hath veiled his light', Z193 |
A tantalising fusion of ancient and modern, ‘Byrdland’ explores the world of the Renaissance song accompanied by a modern-day saxophone quartet. All the songs on the disc were written by the great composers working in England in the 16th and 17th centuries. Recent recordings by artists as diverse as Sting and Brian Asawa have partnered the singer with the more traditional lute. “Zazzo's interpretation of the text and tasteful shaping of melody would grace any kind of performance style, and it is intriguing to hear some tenderly realised polyphonic lines delineated by the Paragon Saxophone Quartet. Byrd's "Lullaby" and Gibbon's "The Silver Swan" get an attractive alternative life here. ...a rare example of successfully reinventing "early" music.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2007 “…the elegant phrasing and sumptuous tonal character of the Paragon Quartet's playing… combines the warm intimacy of a viol consort with the fruit richness of shawms and crumhorns. Zazzo has one of the most flawless, beautifully-controlled voices you could wish to hear. ...his sound and technique rival even Scholl's and his diction is excellent in this astute mixture of familiar and lesser-known pieces.” BBC Music Magazine, Proms 2007 **** | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Orlando Gibbons - Keyboard Music
“an excellent anthology of his keyboard works… an excellent disc by any standards.” Gramophone Magazine | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Gibbons: Choral and Organ Music
“The Oxford Camerata provides a representative selection of choral works by Gibbons, together with three of his organ pieces. The programme is introduced by a bright and busy performance of the eight-part O clap your hands, followed by the noble verse anthem Great Lord of Lords – and it's pleasing to hear in this piece, and in the other verse-anthems, the rich timbre of the countertenor Robin Blaze, a welcome acquisition for the Camerata, which has a great deal of vocal talent in its make-up. They tackle the gently moving See,see, the Word is incarnate with great confidence, together with the First and Second Services and the quiet collects with all the knowledge and aplomb of cathedral lay clerks or choral scholars from Oxford and Cambridge. Laurence Cummings plays two short preludes, the one in G major – a real test of agility – from Parthenia and that in D minor from Benjamin Cosyn's VirginalBook. The Fantazia of four parts is a most extraordinary work, quite hard to steady and control.
A welcome addition to the programme.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 “...a welcome addition to the programme. At a budget price, this CD is worth every penny.” Gramophone Magazine | | | (also available to download from $6.00) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Orlando Gibbons - Second Service And Anthems
| | | (also available to download from $10.75) | Usually despatched in 8 - 10 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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| |  | Choral Masterpieces of the English Renaissance
Gibbons, O: | Te Deum & Jubilate Deo (Second Service, morning) O Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not Fantasia of four parts O God the King of Glory Glorious and powerful God Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis (Second Service, evening) A Fancy Sing unto the Lord A Fancy for Double Organ O clap your hands See, see, the Word is incarnate | Tallis: | Sancte Deus Audivi vocem de caelo Honor, Virtus et Potestas O sacrum convivium Salvator mundi Dum transisset sabbatum In ieiunio et fletu Derelinquat impius Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis for 5 voices Candidi Facti Sunt Salvator mundi, salva nos 1 - antiphonn for five voices Absterge Domine Gaude gloriosa Dei mater | Taverner: | Mass 'The Western Wynde' Mater Christi Sanctissima | Tomkins: | Te Deum In Nomine (2 Versions) Jubilate (Third Service) Third Service: Magnificat & Nunc dimittis Voluntary in G Know you not Voluntary in C Voluntary in A O Lord, let me know mine end Oh, that Salvation | Tye: | Western Wind Mass My trust, O Lord, in thee is grounded Christ Rising Again from the Dead Omnes gentes, plaudite manibus Peccavimus cum patribus |
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