Purcell: Royal Welcome Songs for King James II CD review – virtuosic drama

Harry Christophers on the Sixteen’s Purcell series.

This first in a new series of recordings from Harry Christophers and the Sixteen springs from their Wigmore Hall exploration of the music of Henry Purcell and brings to life his Welcome Songs, composed, like the birthday odes, for special occasions, usually the return of the monarch to London from far-off Windsor. “Ye tuneful Muses, raise your heads!” from 1686 and “Sound the trumpet, beat the drum” (1687) display Purcell’s genius with word painting and his innate dramatic sensibility. Christophers coaxes virtuosic performances from eight members of the Sixteen, with a fine band of period instrumentalists revelling in the glories of Purcell’s unique harmonic palette. Recommended.