Purcell's Chacony in G minor stands out for its chromaticism and audacity, which were not commonly found in its French models.
Performer Biography
London Baroque, formed in 1978, is recognized as a leading ensemble for baroque chamber music, performing around 50 concerts annually.
Composer's Artistic Vision
At 21, Purcell's fantasias demonstrate his mastery of older compositional techniques, perhaps to set them aside and explore new styles.
Composer Biography
Henry Purcell, born around 1659, was a chorister in the Chapel Royal and later became organist of Westminster Abbey.
Historical Context
The tradition of 'In nomine' compositions, which used a phrase from Taverner's mass as a cantus firmus, lasted from 1550 to about 1640, with Purcell's two pieces being the last in this form.
Interpretation
This recording uses instruments from the violin family, partly because some pieces are 'violinistic' and partly due to historical evidence that musicians were transitioning from viols to violins in the late 1650s.
Compositional Technique
Purcell's string fantasias are considered the final contributions to the two-hundred-year history of that musical form.
