A voice teacher and early music fan
George Peabody | Planet Earth | 10/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"YE LOVERS OF ODES, GO FOR THIS ONE!!!!!
The origin of the English custom of celebrating St. Cecelia's Day, Nov. 22, with a concert featuring the performance of a specially composed ode is really not known. The earliest surviving ode, Purcell's 'Welcome to all pleasures' was written in 1683, but prior to that there is evidence that St.Cecelia's Day was honored in some way by feasts and celebrations.
Draghi's setting of 'From Harmony, from Heav'nly harmony' does have some rough edges, but it also has a vividness and grandeur that was matched by Purcell only in his most ambitious odes. 'From harmony, heav'nly harmony' has rich five-part string writing laid out in the Italian manner for 2 violins,two violas and bass. In addition, it has massive five-part choral writing and spectacular countertenor and bass solos. Draghi's impressive opening symphony, a graphic evocation of the creation of the world, makes for am impressive introduction to the remainder of the ode,
John Blow's setting of Thomas D'Urfey's 1691 St. Cecelia Ode, 'The Glorious Day is Come' is equally innovative, though it is a more uneven work. Blow was evidently dissatisfied with the 'patchwork' design of earlier odes, so he attempted a 'leitmotif' device, that he discarded halfway through the work; so that didn't completely do the trick for him. Nevertheless, it is a rare early example of the sort of thematic inter-relationships between movements that composers began to develop about a century later, and it serves as a frame for some fine unrelated numbers.
The performance of this music is quite outstanding, and is indeed one of the finest presentations of this music that I have heard. The singing is excellent, and Michael Chance (countertenor) is in his element (one of his many) as he sings these songs with resonance and emotion. Suzie Le Blanc, soprano, has such a lovely sound as does Joseph Cornwall, tenor. Special mention to the two basses , who have a great deal to sing as does the countertenor. The very fine basses are: Jozic Koc and Richard Wistreich.
The instrumental accompaniments throughout are delightful to hear and a very interesting part of the recording. The Parley of Instruments and the Playford Consort, are both obviously skilled in this genre.
The acccmpanying booklet is informative and includes the text of the odes."
