Homage to Purcell

Homage to Purcell or Henry Purcell - Celebrated Songs
An anthology comprising the most celebrated songs, sacred airs and concert pieces for strings and harpsichord
A. Deller, Dupré; Bergman, Bevan, Cantelo, Gibbs, Jones, Malcolm, Marriner; The Baroque Players
Vanguard « The Bach Guild » BG-570 / 571 [LPx2, mono, NA]
Vanguard « The Bach Guild » BGS-70570 / 571 [LPx2, stereo, NA]
Vanguard « Top Rank » XRK 508 / 509 [LPx2, mono, UK]
Vanguard VSL 1 1032 / 1 1033 [LPx2, stereo, UK]
Vanguard (Omega) Classics « The Bach Guild » OVC 2002 / 03 [CDx2, NA]
Vanguard (Arcade) Classics « The Bach Guild » 08 2003 72 [CDx2, Europe]
Vanguard (Arcade) Classics « Alfred Deller Edition » 300 334-2 [CDx2, France]
Vanguard (Arcade) Classics « Alfred Deller Edition » 08 5097 72 [CDx2, Europe]

Contents:

    LP-1/CD-1

    Henry Purcell
  1. Three Parts (Fantasia) upon a Ground in D Minor for Three Violins and Continuo) (Z. 731, ?1678)

    2. Henry Purcell (m) / John Dryden and Nathaniel Lee (t)
    Oedipus, King of Thebes (Z. 583, ?1692)
  2. Song (from Act III): Music for a while (Z. 583/2)

    3. Henry Purcell (uncertain): transcription from "The Old Ba(t)chelor" (Z. 607, 1693)
  3. Hornpipe in E Minor ( Z. T685)

    4. Henry Purcell
  4. Secular song: I love and I must (Z. 382, 1693)

    5. Henry Purcell (m) / Thomas D'Urfey (t)
    The Comical History of Don Quixote (Z. 578, 1694-1695)
  5. Part I: Let the Dreadful Engines (Z. 578/3)

    6. Henry Purcell (m) / ?Thomas Betterton (t) after a Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
    The Fairy Queen (Z. 629, 1693 version)
  6. Aria (Juno): Thrice Happy Lovers (Epithalamium) (Z. 629/39bc)

    7. Henry Purcell: A Choice Collection of Lessons
  7. Suite in D for Harpsichord (Z. 667, 1696)
    1. Prelude
    2. Almand
    3. Hornpipe
    8. —
    Henry Purcell (m) / Henry Heveningham (t)
  8. Secular song: If music be the food of love (Z. 379A, first setting, 1691/92)

    9. Henry Purcell: Ten Sonata in Four Parts (Z. 802-811, c1678-1683)
  9. Sonata No. 9 in F (Golden Sonata) (Z. 810, ?1681-1682)
    1. Allegro
    2. Adagio
    3. Canzona Allegro
    4. Grave
    5. Allegro

    10. Henry Purcell (m) / Nahum Tate (t)
  10. Sacred song (1v): Tell me, some pitying angel (The Blessed Virgin's Expostulation) (Z. 196, p1693)

    11. Henry Purcell
  11. Pavan in G Minor for 3 violins and viola da gamba (Z. 752, after 1678)

    12. Henry Purcell
  12. Secular song (1v): Not all my torments can your pity move (Z. 400, late 1693)

    13. Henry Purcell (m) / Francis Quarles (t)
  13. Sacred song (2vv): Close thine eyes and sleep secure (Upon a Quiet Conscience) (Z. 184, p1688)

    14. LP-2/CD-2

    Henry Purcell (m) / John Dryden (t)
    King Arthur or the British Worthy (Z 628, 1691)
  14. Aria (Venus): Fairest Isle (Z. 628/38)

    15. Henry Purcell
  15. Sonata in G Minor for Violin and Continuo (Z. 780, ?1683-1684)
    1. Adagio-Moderato
    2. Adagio con espressione
    3. Vivace

    16. Henry Purcell (m) / Richard Norton (t)
    Pausanias, the Betrayer of his Country (Z. 585, 1695/96)
  16. Sweeter than roses (Z. 585/1)

    17. Henry Purcell: The second Part of Musick's Hand-maid (1689)
  17. Music Lessons 1-6
    1. Song Tune in C (Z. T694)
    2. Con Spirito (Z. 647)
    3. March in C (Z. 648)
    4. New Minuet in D Minor (Z. T689)
    5. Minuet in A Minor (Z. 649)
    6. Minuet in A Minor, (Z. 650)

    18. Henry Purcell
  18. Secular song (1v): The fatal hour comes on apace (Z. 421, ?1694-1695)

    19. Henry Purcell (m) / Nahum Tate (t)
    Celebrate this festival (Birthday Ode for Queen Mary II) (Z. 321, 1693)
  19. Crown the Altar (Z. 321, exc.)

    20. —
    Henry Purcell (m) / Johnt Dryden & Robert Howard (t)
    The Indian Queen (Z. 630, 1695)
  20. Aria (Aerial spirits): I attempt from Love's sickness (soprano solo) (Z. 630/17a)

    21. Henry Purcell: The second Part of Musick's Hand-maid (1689)
  21. Music Lessons 7-12
    1. A New Scotch Tune in G (Z. 655)
    2. A New Ground in E Minor (Z. T682)
    3. A New Irish Tune (Z. 646)
    4. Rigadoon in C (Z. 653)
    5. Sefauchi's Farewell, in D Minor (Z. 656)
    6. Minuet in D Minor (Z. T688)

    22. Henry Purcell (m) / G. Powell, after Fletcher, (t)
    Bonduca, or The British Heroine (Z. 574, 1695)
  22. Prelude and Song: O lead me to some peaceful gloom (Z. 574/17)

    23. Henry Purcell (m) / Thomas Betterton (t) (after J Fletcher, P Massinger)
    The Prophetess or the History of Dioclesian (Z. 627, 1690)
  23. Prelude and Aria: What shall I do (Z. 627/18)

    24. Henry Purcell:
  24. Fantasia upon One Note in F, for five viols (Z. 745, c1680)

    25. Henry Purcell (m) / Thomas D'Urfey (t)
    The Comical History of Don Quixote (Z. 578, 1694-1695)
  25. Part III: From rosy bow'rs (Z. 578/9)

Playing time: 56" 38' + 53' 42" = 1h 50' 20"

Performers:
[1] Neville Marriner (violin), Peter Gibbs (violin), Granville Jones (violin), George Malcolm (harpsichord), Desmond Dupré (viola da gamba)
[2], [6], [8], [12], [14], [16], [18]-[20], [22]-[23], [25] Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Walter Bergman (harpsichord)
[3] George Malcolm (harpsichord)
[4], [10] April Cantelo (soprano), George Malcolm (harpsichord)
[5] Maurice Bevan (baritone), George Malcolm (harpsichord)
[7], [17], [21] George Malcolm (harpsichord)
[9] Peter Gibbs (violin), Neville Marriner (violin), George Malcolm (harpsichord), Desmond Dupré (viola da gamba)
[11] Neville Marriner (violin), Peter Gibbs (violin), Granville Jones (violin), Desmond Dupré (viola da gamba)
[13] April Cantelo (soprano), Maurice Bevan (baritone), George Malcolm (harpsichord)
[15] Neville Marriner (violin), George Malcolm (harpsichord)
[24] The Baroque Players

Recording site and date:
Walthamstow Hall, London, U.K. [1957 and prior]
Obviously the date stated in all CD re-edition is wrong (1964); according to a Vanguard advertisement in Notes in March 1958, that release is announced for April 1958; the stereo version may have been released in 1964.
Rel.: 1958 (BG), 1959 (XRK), 1964 (BGS), 1968 (VSL)

Excerpts:
[1]-[13] Amadeo AVR 6160 [LP] Henry Purcell - Celebrated Songs, vol. 1
[14]-[25] Amadeo AVR 6161 [LP] Henry Purcell - Celebrated Songs, vol. 2
[2], [4]-[6], [8], [10], [12]-[14], [16], [20], [22], [25] Vanguard "Everyman classics" SRV 280 SD [LP] Music for a while - The vocal art of Henry Purcell
[2], [4]-[6], [8]-[14], [16], [18]-[20], [22]-[23], [25] Regis RRC 1366 [CD] Purcell: Songs and Sacred Arias
[2], [4]-[10], [12]-[23], [25] Musical Concepts MC 194 [CDx6 + CD-ROM] Alfred Deller - The Complete Vanguard Recordings, Volume TWO: Music of Henry Purcell
[2], [8], [14], [20] Vanguard "VSD 729 / 30 [LP] The Art of Alfred Deller - The most famous recordings
[2], [18] Vanguard "Top Rank" TR 5008 [45rpm] Henry Purcell - Music for a while

Reviewed in:
Diapason (#-p.): 393-144 (may 1993 as 08 2003 72), 420-180 (november 1995 as 300 334-2)
Gramophone (Vol./#-p.): 37/437-187 (Oct 1959, (XRK)), (Jun 1968, (VSL)), 71-844 (Sept 1993, (08.2003.72))

Comments:
Information from CD and Vanguard BG set of 2 LPs. The Amadeo release has been issued separately (Bielefelder katalog - 1965).
Alan Howlett in the discography published in "Alfred Deller, A Singularity of a Voice" wrote what could be a misleading statement on Purcell's recordings: "most Deller/Bergman discs (i.e. early HMV 78s) have been remastered for LPs and appear on Vanguard Homage to Henry Purcell, except: HMV C 4247 and HMV 7 EP 7068"; he didn't list numbers nor content of unlisted 78rpm. After careful research, no trace of unlisted Deller/Bergmann's recordings have been found, but HMV C 3890 and HMV C 4044 for a total of 4 songs; this leaves 8 songs [12], [14], [18]-[20], [22]-[23], [25] with no trace of a HMV recording on 78rpm.

To purchasing information for this disc.

To FAQ references to this recording.

To FAQ CD index page.

Pierre-F. Roberge