The composers on this album, Matthew Locke and John Blow, blended tradition with modernity, incorporating rapid declamation influenced by Italian music into their works.
Composer Biography
Matthew Locke, one of the composers on this album, was Catholic, which paradoxically prevented him from officially joining the Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal despite composing anthems for the Anglican service.
Composer Biography
John Blow, another composer on this album, was a chorister recruited by Charles II to rebuild the Chapel Royal choir in 1660 and later became its organist and Master of the Children.
Composition History
Following the Restoration, King Charles II aimed to re-establish a strong Anglican Church, including its musical components, which had been suppressed during the Commonwealth period.
Compositional Technique
The Verse Anthem, a musical form featured on this album, emerged during the Elizabethan era and was revived in the mid-17th century, allowing for dialogue between solo voices and the choir.
Historical Context
The album's music reflects the turbulent period in England between the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, which saw the rise and fall of Oliver Cromwell's puritanical regime.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in November 2020 at the Saint-Pierre de Montmartre Church in Paris, featuring instruments like a virginal by Jean-François Brun and a Deblieck positive organ.
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