Purcell's Ode for St. Cecilia's Day

Henry Purcell: Ode for St. Cecilia's Day (1692)

Hail Bright Cecilia
Deller, Cantelo, Brown, Bevan, Salmon, Frost, Eskdale, Bergmann, Ambrosian Singers, Kalmar Chamber Orchestra of London - Sir Michael Tippett, cond.
Vanguard « The Bach Guild » BG-559 [LP, mono, NA market]
Amadeo AVRS 6068 [LP, continental Europe]
Nixa (Pye) « Red Label » NCL 16021 [LP, mono, UK]
Harmonia Mundi HM 5110 [LP]
Harmonia Mundi HM 40 5110 [Cassette]
Pye « Golden Guinea » 4112 [LP]
Vanguard « Everyman classics » SRV 286 SD [LP]
Vanguard « Bach Guild » HM 33 [LP]
Vanguard Classics (Omega) OVC 8020 [CD, NA market]
Vanguard Classics (Omega) OVC 8116 [CD, NA market]

Contents:

Henry Purcell, Autograph score, Bodleian Library, Oxford, Mus. C. 26:

1. Overture: Symphony
2. Soli and Chorus: Hail! Bright Cecilia
3. Duet: Hark, each tree
4. Alto solo: 'Tis nature voice
5. Chorus: Soul of the world

----

6. Soprano solo: Thou tun'st this world
7. Trio: With that sublime celestial lay
8. Bass solo: Wond'rous machine
9. Alto solo: The airy violin
10. Duet: In vain the am'rous flute
11. Alto solo: The Fife and all the Harmony of war
12. Duet: Let these among themselves contest
13. Great Chorus: Hail! Bright Cecilia

Playing time: 28' 05" + 28' 20" = 56' 25" (LP) or 57' 09" (CD)

Performers:
Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), April Cantelo (soprano), Wilfred Brown (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone), Peter Salmon (counter-tenor), John Frost (bass), George Eskdale (solo trumpet)
Ambrosian Singers
Kalmar Chamber Orchestra of London
Leonard Friedman (violin), Eli Goren (violin), Richard Taylor (treble recorder), Stanley Taylor (treble recorder), Peter Graeme (oboe), Edward Selwyn (oboe), Philip Jones (trumpet), Denis Clift (trumpet), Alan Taylor (tympani), Anna Shuttleworth ('cello, bass continuo), Francis Baines ('cello, bass continuo), Denis Vaughan (harpsichord), Sir Michael Tippett, cond.

Recording site and date:
Criclewood Church, London, UK [06/1956];
Rel.: 1956 (Vanguard BG), 1973 (HM)

Compilation:
Vanguard (Arcade) VCD 72 013 [CD] Henry Purcell Ode for St. Cecilia's Day - Rejoice the Lord alway.
Musical Concepts MC 194 [CDx6 + CD-ROM] Alfred Deller - The Complete Vanguard Recordings, Volume TWO: Music of Henry Purcell.

Reviewed in:
Diapason (#-p.): 273- (june 1982 (as HM 5110)), 353-158 (oct. 1989 (As Vanguard 92 521))
Gramophone (Vol./#-p.): 35/409-23 (June 1957 (Nixa), 46/540- (May 1968 (Pye)

Comments: Information from LPs (BG-559, Nixa, HM) & CD (Vanguard OVC 8020)

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