David Munrow Conducts Purcell

My recent post of Henry Purcell's Funeral Music for Queen Mary led me to vow that I would post other music by that great Baroque composer. I can think of no better candidate than this recording from the Early Music Consort of London under its remarkable director, David Munrow.

The sessions took place in June 1975, less than a year before Munrow's early death at age 33.

David Munrow

Like the works on the previous recording, this music was composed to honor Queen Mary II of England. The earlier LP contained her funeral music; this one presents two brilliant birthday odes in her honor - selected from the six that Purcell composed, one for each year of her short reign (1689-94).

The earlier of the two on this record is Love's Goddess Sure, from 1692 and written in the French style. The latter, and perhaps better known, is Come ye Sons of Art, from 1694 and in the Italian style. Both enjoy brilliant performances by Munrow and ensemble.

Queen Mary and Henry Purcell

It is hard to overstate Munrow's importance in popularizing early music performance. This is particularly true of his advocacy of medieval and Renaissance compositions, although he also performed Baroque works. His forays into the later period were entirely successful, with this LP an eloquent example.

David Munrow and Christopher Hogwood

Munrow founded the Early Music Consort of London in the 1960s with keyboard player Christopher Hogwood. They gathered some of the best known names in early music performance, including violinist Simon Standage and viola da gambist Oliver Brookes. The vocal soloists for this record include soprano Norma Burrowes, countertenors James Bowman and Charles Brett, and bass Robert Lloyd. Bowman, who died earlier this year, was a particularly important figure and probably the most influential countertenor after Alfred Deller. His duets with Brett are a highlight of this record, but all the singers are splendid.

As Stoddard Lincoln wrote in Stereo Review, "In the performances ease prevails, nothing is forced, each phrase is lovingly turned, and gentle elegance wins the day."

Charles Brett and James Bowman

This recording, which comes from EMI's Abbey Road studios, does not have the sumptuous quality of the previous Purcell LP, which emanated from the very resonant King's College Chapel. It is very good in its own right, however, and well suited to the Early Music Consort's relatively small forces. My transfer comes from an excellent original HMV pressing.

Perhaps recognizing that Alfred Deller had produced a notable recording of Come ye Sons of Art years earlier, EMI commissioned its informative liner notes from Maurice Bevan, for many years the baritone soloist in the Deller Consort.

The download includes complete scans including the text booklet, photos, reviews, and a long Records and Recording article on Munrow based on an interview that took place during the recording of this LP.

To demonstrate some of the changes in performance practice over the years, on my other blog I've uploaded a 1931 recording of a Purcell suite from the London Chamber Orchestra and Anthony Bernard.