Playing time: 60' 49"
Performers:
Hespèrion XX:
Jordi Savall (soprano viol), Eunice Brandao (alto viol), Sergi
Casademunt (tenor viol), Paolo Pandolfo (bass viol), Lorenz Duftschmid
(violone), Andrew Lawrence-King (double harp, italian type), Michael
Behringer (portative organ)
Jordi Savall, dir.
Recording site and date:
Colegiata del Castillo de Cardona (Cataluña) [06/1993];
Rel.: 03/08/1994 (E), 02/08/2000 (ES)
Compilation:
Astrée (Naïve) ES 9986 [CDx5]
Jordi Savall: Pieces for the viols - Purcell, Dowland, Hume, Locke,
Tye.
Reviewed in:
Diapason (#-p.): 404-132 (05/1994)
Early Music America (Vol./#-p.):
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.):
Goldberg (#-p.):
Gramophone (Vol./#-p.):
Comments:
Information from CD.
Matthew Locke (1621-1677) was the most important composer of Restoration England, both in choral and instrumental music. This is especially true in chamber music, where aside from Jenkins (who, being a provincial musician, was largely unaffected by the changes of government), he was the only significant composer of chamber music between Lawes and Purcell.
Locke's style is essentially conservative, using received forms and traditional counterpoint. However, he added some continental influence in his choice of melodies and helped pave the way for Purcell (who followed him in his position as court composer). He was also technically proficient, and played an important role in ensuring that the earlier English instrumental style would not be completely lost during the Civil War.
The Consort of Fower (four) Parts (1660) is Locke's most interesting chamber composition from our modern perspective. It was one of the last substantial compositions written for viol consort in England (Purcell's fantasias being the last), and makes a fine summation to that genre, incorporating as it does the older contrapuntal style of the Renaissance with the new Baroque dances.
Other recordings:
The latter contains another cycle of suites for consort. Another recording including some songs:
Locke also wrote a fairly large amount of chamber music for violins, The Broken Consort (1661) being by far the most substantial publication. A recording:
And a recording of keyboard music:
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Todd M. McComb