Purcell - Suites for Harpsichord (CD)

Details: The music of the English Virginalists (virginal is a smaller variety of harpsichord) dating back to the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries served as an inspiration for the French harpsichord style, which, after several years, returned to Great Britain. It was adopted in such a mature form by the most outstanding composer born in England. Henry Purcell, conscious of the music's sources, enriched it with subsequent references to native musical traditions and with his own original compositional technique. The extremely meticulous interpretations of eight harpsichord suites by Purcell, performed by Ewa Rzetecka-Niewiadomska, convincingly confirm the artistry and aesthetic value of these compositions, with plenty of charm and stylistic treats, which, due to extra-musical reasons, are on the margin of the mainstream of the history of music.

Tracklist:

1. I. Prelude
2. II. Almand
3. III. Corant
4. IV. (Minuet)
5. I. Prelude
6. II. (Almand)
7. III. Corant
8. IV. Saraband
9. I. Prelude
10. II. Almand
11. III. Courante
12. I. Prelude
13. II. Almand
14. III. Corante
15. IV. Saraband
16. I. Prelude
17. II. Almand
18. III. Corant
19. IV. Saraband
20. I. Prelude
21. II. Almand
22. III. (Hornpipe)
23. I. Almand 'Bell-barr'
24. II. Corant
25. III. Hornpipe
26. I. Prelude
27. II. Almand
28. III. Courante
29. IV. Minuet