Reviewed by Dave Massey

From track one this album shouts quality. I particularly like the vocal qualities of the two solo trebles on "O Lord Rebuke Me Not", Philip Hallchurch and Mark Kennedy whose dry tone and accurate intonation send shivers down the spine. Two new pieces which have never been recorded before have been included, "Awake And With Attention Hear" and "When On My Sick Bed I Languish", (they don't write 'em like that any more!). The ornamentation is just right for my taste, and with the Theorbos of the King's Consort thrown in for good measure, what more could one ask for? This has got to be the best recording in the series so far. Maybe it is due to the higher pitch of the choir who take 455Hz as their pitch centre as opposed to the modern and much lower 440Hz (Yer, what? Ed), resulting in a clearer sound which allows for some of Purcell's low vocal writing. Whatever the reason, conductor Robert King has produced the goods here and the result is a setting of one of England's finest composers in a jewel that will shine for some time to come and which deserves to become recognised as a classic recording.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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