Performers: John Bryan, Mark Caudle, Alison Crum, Elizabeth Liddle, Roy Marks, Susanna Pell, Timothy Roberts (organ)
Playing time: 70'
Recording date: April & May 1992
John Jenkins (1592-1678) was one of the most gifted composers of music for viol consort. However, he received relatively little institutional recognition, and did not receive a court appointment until late in his life. Prior to that, he spent his time living with various noble patrons, writing consort music aimed at amateurs.
However, the latter fact should not lead one to the conclusion that his music is easy. Actually, it is startlingly difficult, and leads one to amazement over the apparent prowess of the amateur consort players of the time. In fact, Jenkins' huge output of fantasias (the most serious form; Jenkins was the most productive composer in the genre) includes many of the most contrapuntally complex examples ever written.
The present recording gives a broad selection of Jenkins music for various consort combination.
Other recordings devoted to Jenkins' viol consort music:
And two recordings focusing on Jenkins' more modern Fantasia-Suites:
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Todd M. McComb