Purcell: Anthems / Instrumental Music / Songs

2 cd s set in box. This 2 CD-set presents two aspects of Purcell's music: religious music and instrumental music. Let's start by the first CD. It includes magnificent anthems for the Church for soloists, choir, and orchestra. The first track to open the CD, "Rejoice in the Lord alway", is probably one of Purcell's most famous anthem. The beautiful introduction (sometimes known as the Bell Anthem) prepares the entry of the two countertenors who expose the melody, intoned by the choir later. As with Purcell's style, the music is always refined. The soloists are all top-notch here, and the choir (King's College of Cambridge) is, as always, magnificent. It is really nice to hear the soprano part sung by boys, as I think it gives another dimension to Purcell's music. After the first three anthems, the famous Chacony in G Minor is inserted, I guess to give rest to the listener. The CD tries also to present anthems for different forces: some are just for 2 soloists and organ, while others require the use of the full choir with soloists and the orchestra. However, the orchestra does not include trumpets, timpani, or oboes here, so the forces stay somewhat minimalist. The second CD focuses on Purcell's instrumental music, this time played by the Bruggen-Consort, under the direction of its founder Franz Bruggen. It focuses on the miscellaneous music Purcell wrote for instruments. Most of it is only available as manuscripts and was never published during the composer's lifetime. Only the pavans for viols and continuo might be already familiar to some. The music is also very varied, including pieces for viols, harpsichord solo, and string quartet (2 violins, viola, continuo). I would say this recording is a must have, just for the second CD as it includes pieces of Purcell's music rarely recorded. The performance of all musicians is outstanding, and the anthems sung by the King's College on CD1 is just amazing. As usual with Leonhardt and Bruggen, the performances are historically informed and use period instruments. The booklet is also really nice as it gives more information about Purcell's music, and lists all the instruments used with a short description.