HENRY PURCELL (1659–1695)

JOHN BLOW (1649–1708)

WILLIAM CHILD (1606–1697)

WILLIAM TURNER (1651–1740)

O praise the Lord Restoration Music from Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey Choir

Robert Quinney - organ

James O’Donnell – conductor

1 CHILD O praise the Lord [2'41]

2 BLOW Voluntary in A [2'29]

3 BLOW God is our hope and strength [3'20]

4 BLOW Venite [3'35]

5 TURNER Psalm 113 [2'35]

6 BLOW Voluntary in D minor [2'43]

PURCELL Complete Service in B flat Z230

7 Benedicite [7'30]

8 Benedictus [4'26]

9 PURCELL O Lord God of hosts Z37 [4'29]

10 BLOW Voluntary in D minor [3'14]

11 BLOW Salvator mundi, salva nos [3'44]

12 PURCELL Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei Z135 [6'27]

13 PURCELL Voluntary in D minor Z718 [3'35]

14 PURCELL Hear my prayer, O Lord Z15 [2'26]

15 TURNER Psalm 54 [2'37]

16 PURCELL Voluntary in C major Z717 [1'27]

PURCELL Complete Service in B flat Z230

17 Magnificat [3'54]

18 Nunc dimittis [1'58]

19 PURCELL Lord, how long wilt thou be angry? Z25 [3'49]

20 PURCELL Voluntary in G major Z720 [3'07]

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.

Hyperion CDA67792