HENRY PURCELL

 

Keyboard Suites & Grounds

 

Richard Egarr - harpsichord

 

Recorded October 13-15, 2007, Potton Hall

 

In his latest solo recital for harmonia mundi, Richard Egarr turns to the rarely heard harpsichord Suites by Henry Purcell. In his beautifully shaped reading, these eight muscular and quirky works, published the year after Purcell's death, are interspersed with seven shorter pieces built on a recurring pattern – a chaconne, a rondeau, and five 'grounds'. Richard Egarr has worked with all types of keyboards and is in great demand both as soloist and as accompanist. His collaboration with long-time duo partner Andrew Manze has been setting new performance standards since 1984. He is music director of the Academy of Ancient Music, and they recently recorded Handel's Organ Concertos Op. 4 together, nominated for a Gramophone Award 2008.

 

“Purcell's untimely death in 1695 at the age of 36 was an incalculable loss for music. The sickness that caused it was rapid, unexpected and remains unexplained. The legend that he caught a chill after returning late from the theatre one night to find that his wife Frances had locked him out cannot be substantiated. Thanks to his wife though, with the generous support of the Princess of Denmark, Henry's eight keyboard suites were published the year after his death as part of A Choice Collection of Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnet. These works are great, of huge scope and of real importance in the history of English keyboard music. I have loved them dearly for a long time. I hope that they will warm you, and maybe eventually even kindle a mortal fever in your heart.” Richard Egarr

 

Harmonia Mundi HMU907428