Search - Martin Souter :: Henry Purcell Suites

A Choice Collection of Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnet (London 1696). The 1700 Joseph Tisseran harpsichord. The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, Oxford. Purcell's keyboard music owes much to the French musical style. All things French were highly fashionable in the London of his period, and each suite consists primarily of French dance movements, with a smattering of more robust English rhythms for good measure. The music has a hypnotic beauty, which is enhanced by the superb Tisseran harpsichord, which was tuned for the recording in a temperament, which would have been very familiar to Purcell. This tuning differs from our modern 'equal' temperament by making some intervals more in tune than we might expect, while some are very much more 'out of tune'. This adds an interesting piquancy to the music. The effect of the tuning is to make chords and keys sound very calm and relaxing, while certain others are quite harsh in their effect. Recorded by kind permission of the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments, University of Oxford. With thanks to Dr Hélène la Rue