Historian Murray Lefkowitz suggests Locke's "vitriolic side" may stem from witnessing atrocities committed by Cromwell's anti-royalist troops in his youth, including attacks on clergy and desecration of churches.
Performer Biography
Phantasm, the award-winning consort of viols, was founded in 1994 by Laurence Dreyfus and is known for its intense interpretations and flawless string technique.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Matthew Locke, the composer, was a contrarian who aimed to leave a unique imprint on musical genres, never settling for conventional compositional techniques.
Composer Biography
Locke had a pugnacious attitude, evident in his published prose where he fiercely criticized a former pupil, Thomas Salmon, for proposing a new system of musical notation.
Cultural Impact
The amateur musician Roger North called Locke "ultimus Heroum" (the last of the heroes), comparing him to the Spartan warrior king Cleomenes I, a figure from a play by John Dryden.
Compositional Technique
Locke's musical style is characterized by angular melodies, bewildering harmonic shifts, and frequent tempo changes, particularly in the fantasies.
Composition History
Matthew Locke's demanding Flat Consort and more modest Little Consort were both intended to be presented to King Charles II in a lavish manuscript.
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