Tomkins: Consort music, etc.

Tomkins: Consort Music for Viols and Voices / Keyboard Music

Rose Consort of Viols, Red Byrd, Timothy Roberts
Naxos 8.550602

Contents:

1. Pavan in F (4 viols)
2. Almain in F (4 viols)
3. In Nomine (organ)
4. Above the stars (6 voices, 5 viols)
5. Fantasia XIV (3 viols)
6. Fantasia I (3 viols)
7. A Fancy: For two to play (harpsichord - 4 hands)
8. Hexachord Fantasia: Ut re mi (4 viols)
9. O Lord, let me know mine end (5 voices, 5 viols)
10. Fantasia XII (3 viols)
11. In Nomine II (3 viols)
12. Pavan and Galliard: Earl Strafford (harpsichord)
13. Fantasia (6 viols)
14. Miserere (organ)
15. Voluntary (organ)
16. Pavan in a (5 viols, organ)
17. Simpson: Galliard (5 viols, organ)
18. Thou art my King, O God (5 voices, 5 viols)

Performers: Caroline Trevor, Penny Vickers, Ian Honeyman, John Potter, Henry Wickham, Richard Wistreich (voices), Mark Caudle, Alison Crum, Julia Hodgson, Elizabeth Liddle, Roy Marks, Susanna Pell (viols), Timothy Roberts (harpsichord, organ), John Bryan (harpsichord duettist)

Playing time: 65'

Recording date: April, May, June, November 1992

Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656) was the last of the old-fashioned (in the style of Byrd and Gibbons) viol consort and keyboard composers in England. The era of the English virginalists is generally held to have ended with his death. Although he is definitely a traditionalist, Tomkins' instrumental music also contains some original/idiosyncractic elements.

Tomkins, who although of Coprario's generation did not compose most of his instrumental music until later in his life, was also Gibbons' junior (in the official sense) partner as organist at the Chapel Royal.

A similar program:

Tomkins: Songs and Ensemble Music

Penrose / English Consort of Viols - Eric Lynn Kelly
Musicaphon 56815

A recital devoted entirely to songs:

Tomkins: Songs of 4, 5 & 6 Parts

Budapest Tomkins Vocal Ensemble - János Dobra
Hungaroton 31514

Track #17 is an "answering" galliard composed by Thomas Simpson (1582-c.1630). A recording of music by Simpson (using violins instead of viols):

Thomas Simpson - An Englishman Abroad

The Parley of Instruments - Peter Holman
Hyperion 66435 (The English Orpheus Vol. 6)

To purchasing information for this disc.

To FAQ references to this recording.

To FAQ CD index page.