Sweeter than Roses
Some of Purcell's most famous songs are included in this collection, among them If Music be the Food of Love and Incassum Lesbia. John O'Donnell accompanies the renowned tenor Gerald English.
Recorded in 1996 at the Concert Hall of the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, the programme pairs Purcell songs for tenor and harpsichord with the Suite No. 4 in A minor and other solo harpsichord pieces.
Artists
John O'Donnell
John O’Donnell, Director of Ensemble Gombert, studied at the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music in Sydney and at the University of Durham. After performing Bach’s complete organ works in 1974, he built an international reputation as an organist and harpsichordist.
Gerald English
Gerald English (1925–2019) enjoyed a long career as a tenor in operatic and concert repertoire, as a recording artist and as an academic. He gave premiere performances of major twentieth-century works, often under the composers’ own direction, and forged close ties with Stravinsky, Henze, Britten, Tippett and Ford.
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell (c. 1659–1695) was an English organist and composer of the middle Baroque. His sacred music, theatre songs, instrumental works and the opera Dido and Aeneas shaped a distinctly English Baroque style.
Tracks
- The Fatal Hour Comes on Apace Henry Purcell 3:27
- Love thou Can'st Hear tho' thou art Blind Henry Purcell 4:38
- Sylvia, Now that your Scorn Give Over Henry Purcell :37
- No, to what Purpose Henry Purcell 4:07
- Round O Henry Purcell 1:41
- T'is Nature's Voice Henry Purcell 3:52
- If Music be the Food of Love Henry Purcell 1:49
- Let Formal Lovers Henry Purcell :57
- Sweeter than Roses Henry Purcell 3:24
- I Came, I saw, and was undone Henry Purcell 4:18
- Let Each Gallant Heart Henry Purcell 1:21
- Ah! Cruel Nymph! You Give Despair Henry Purcell 2:34
- i. Prelude :44
- ii. Almand 2:35
- iii. Corant 1:35
- iv. Saraband 1:23
- Incassum Lesbia Henry Purcell 7:30
- If Grief has any Pow'r to Kill Henry Purcell 1:31
- Let the Night Perish, Cursed be the Morn' Henry Purcell 3:27
- O Solitude Henry Purcell 3:46
- A New Ground Henry Purcell 2:16
- If Pray'rs and Tears Henry Purcell 6:49
- Fly Swift ye Hours Henry Purcell 5:44
- I Lov'd Fair Celia Henry Purcell 1:39
- Urge me no More, this Aery Mirth Henry Purcell 3:05
Suite No. 4 in A Minor Henry Purcell
Performers
- John O'Donnell · harpsichord
- Gerald English · tenor · all except tracks 5, 13–16 and 21
Contributors
Liner Notes
Graeme Skinner
Graeme Skinner writes the annotations that turn Tall Poppies recordings into fully armed listening: texts, contexts and sharp musical argument for everything from Mozart’s rude canons to Sculthorpe’s complete string quartets.
Artwork [Cover]
Ross Harvey
Harpsichord builder and tuner
William Bright
Where to listen
Sweeter than Roses is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Sweeter than Roses is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- TP122
- Total playing time
- 74 minutes 49 seconds
- Producer
- Belinda Webster
- Recording Engineer
- Belinda Webster
- Venue
- Newcastle Conservatorium of Music Concert Hall
- Credit
- Graeme Skinner
Ross Harvey
William Bright - Release date
- 30 May 2000
- Label
- Tall Poppies
- Musical work
copyright - © 2000 Tall Poppies Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2000 Tall Poppies Records
- Category
- Great Classics
- Genres
- Baroque, Vocal & Opera
- Barcode
- EAN 9399001112227
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