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Of grief and the divine

Online Naxos Music Library

Ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell [sound recording] : Songs from "Amphion Anglicus"

'O Praise the Lord' [sound recording] : restoration music from Westminster Abbey

The Choir of Westminster Abbey under their inspirational director James O Donnell delve into the Abbey's vaults for this latest fascinating disc. The triumphant mood of the Restoration required much glorious liturgical music, and the Abbey was home to some of the greatest composers and performers of the age. This recording presents music likely to have been sung by and in some cases, almost certain to have been written for the Choir of Westminster Abbey during the late 1670s and early 1680s. They sing four canticles from the compendious Service in B flat by Henry Purcell, together with psalmody in reconstructed contemporary style, and anthems and motets by Purcell and his contemporary John Blow, who famously both preceded and succeeded Purcell as Organist of the Abbey.