Purcell & Clarke – Son of England « Le Poème Harmonique

Purcell & Clarke – Son of England

A musical depiction of an epoch: the restoration of the monarchy in England and the return of an age of splendour in music. Le Poème Harmonique present two of Henry Purcell’s finest scores, the Funeral Sentences for the death of Queen Mary II and Welcome to all the Pleasures; they also pay tribute to Jeremiah Clarke, who deserves a prominent position in the history of British music. When the former died prematurely, Clarke paid a moving tribute to him in his Ode on the Death of Henry Purcell, surely one of the greatest English masterpieces for chorus and orchestra. Unfortunately, Clarke too died in his prime; he took his life on account of an unhappy love affair. We can only imagine the destiny of British music had such brilliant composers lived longer. At the same time, we must be grateful that these marvellous scores have survived.

Buy this record : ALPHA 285

Cast :

Katherine Watson soprano
Nicholas Tamagna alto
Jeffrey Thompson tenor
Geoffroy Buffière bass

Les Cris de Paris, conducted by Geoffroy Jourdain
Le Poème Harmonique orchestra
Conducted by Vincent Dumestre

Program :

1-9 – JEREMIAH CLARKE : Ode on the death of Henry Purcell
Overture
Come, come along for a dance and a song
Mr. Clarke’s Cebell
Hold, shepherds, hold!
No more this ling’ring blow
Oh, dismal day!
And see, Apollo has unstrung his lyre
Mr. Purcell ’s Fare well
All’s untuned, but yond diviner sphere

10-15 : HENRY PURCELL : Funeral Sentences for the death of Queen Mary II
The Quee n’s funeral marc h so unded before her chariot
Man that is born of a woman
In the midst of life
Yet, O Lord, most mighty
Canzona
Thou knowest, Lord 2’30

16-21 : HENRY PURCELL : Welcome to all the pleasures
Symphony
Welcome to all the pleasure
Here the Deities approve
While joys celestial
Beauty, thou scene of love
In a consort of voices