Search - Peter Holman :: Philips: Motets (English Orpheus Vol 17) /Winchester Cathedral Choir * Hill * The Parley of Instruments * Holman

Philips: Motets (English Orpheus Vol 17) /Winchester Cathedral Choir * Hill *  The Parley of Instruments * Holman
Peter Holman
Philips: Motets (English Orpheus Vol 17) /Winchester Cathedral Choir * Hill * The Parley of Instruments * Holman
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1

Peter Phillips was a keyboardist, organist, and composer who left his native England in his 20s and never returned, spending the majority of his life in Brussels. Technically, he's an English composer, but because of his r...  more »

     
?

Larger Image

CD Details


Synopsis

Amazon.com
Peter Phillips was a keyboardist, organist, and composer who left his native England in his 20s and never returned, spending the majority of his life in Brussels. Technically, he's an English composer, but because of his residence abroad during his most productive years, his music has virtually fallen through the reportorial cracks of performers and record companies. So, we are fortunate to have this survey of some of Phillips's best vocal works, which, according to one modern observer, are part of "the most substantial corpus of Latin choral motets by any English composer with the sole exception of William Byrd." This refers to Phillips's two-volume set of Cantiones sacrae, published in 1612 and 1613. Although most of the pieces are stylistically closer to Palestrina than to Byrd or Tallis, there are occasional touches of English style--and moments of profound brilliance and exceptional beauty, as in the Ave Jesu Christe. --David Vernier
 

CD Reviews

A relatively unknown composer almost as good as Byrd
R. Rockwell | Brooklyn, NY USA | 04/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I would not have knoown of Philips if he was not recommended at Classical Net. The liner notes make it clear the reason for his relative obscurity. As a Catholic, is coming of age as a composer occurred at the same time when one could be imprisoned for practicing the faith in England. So he left, ultimately landing in service to an archduke in the Spanish Netherlands.
If exile had any effect on his psyche, it is not apparent in his motets which are quite exuberant. They are accompanied in this recording by varying numbers of insrumental accopaniment which only adds to the drama of the liturgical scenes.
It is time for more interest in the music of Philips. This and the Naxos disc are great starting places. His keyboard music is also quite good."