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Reviewer: Philip
Greenfield It was customary for English monarchs to spend summers at Windsor before reconvening court in London when autumn came round. When King Charles II and his brother and heir James returned to the capital as fall nipped the air, there were times that their presence was honored by Welcome Songs—odes of praise composed by Henry Purcell, the greatest British composer of their era.
Charles, the so-called Merry Monarch who occupied the throne from 1660 to his death in 1685, was the recipient of five such musical welcomes. His brother and successor, James II, was feted with three while on the throne and another while cooling his heels as Duke of York. William Gatens discussed two of the odes Purcell earmarked for James (J/F 2018), also performed by Harry Christophers and his Sixteen. This time around, it’s Charles being honored by Welcome To All the Pleasures (the Ode for St Cecilia’s Day) and From the Hardy Climes and Dangerous Toils of War, which was crafted to commemorate the wedding of Prince George of Denmark to Anne, daughter of James, who was then heir to the throne. With the eight shorter works added on, the program yields an embarrassment of riches that continues to do the Stuart Dynasty proud. If you need reminding of the lofty place Purcell holds in English music—indeed in the history of music altogether—look no further.
The Sixteen performs this music stylishly, with brio and elegance to burn. The solo voices and the ensemble are delightfully attuned to the embellishments that make this music jump off the page with such joy. Despite some occasional moaning from the antique fiddles, Maestro Christophers’s low strings, theorbo, harp, and keyboards are worthy partners in the endeavor. Mr Gatens also admired The Sixteen in his review, but found Robert King and his consort zippier and more buoyant in the Welcome Songs they recorded for Hyperion. Gatens admired Hyperion’s spacious sound stage as well. I have no compari-sons to make, but I commend this program to you unreservedly, and have nothing but praise for The Sixteen. They make Purcell sound so regal and so deliciously feisty at the same time. | ||||
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