The Doric String Quartet was founded in 1998 at Pro Corda, a national school for young chamber music players located near Benjamin Britten's home in Suffolk.
Composition History
Henry Purcell's instrumental fantasias, including those on this album, were written or copied in the summer of 1680, with precise dates noted in his autograph score-book.
Instruments
Hélène Clément, the violist of the Doric String Quartet, plays Benjamin Britten's own viola, made in 1843 by Francesco Guissani, which was a gift to Britten from his teacher Frank Bridge.
Recording & Production
This recording uses 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.
Historical Context
Britten's growing passion for Henry Purcell's music was part of a broader revival of interest in the English baroque composer, spearheaded by musicologists and conductors like Jack Westrup and Anthony Lewis.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Benjamin Britten aimed to restore "brilliance, freedom and vitality" to the musical setting of the English language, believing it had been rare since Henry Purcell.
