Alfred Deller: Music of Henry Purcell. Vol.2 (6 CD box set, FLAC)

Performer: Maurice Bevan, Owen Grundy, John Frost, A.R. Shuttleworth, Gustav Leonhardt, et al.
Conductor: Gustav Leonhardt, Alfred Deller, Michael Tippett, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Composer: Henry Purcell, John Blow
Audio CD
SPARS Code: A-D
Number of Discs: 6 CD box set
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Vanguard Classics
Size: 1.82 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc 1:
01. Oedipus (1692), Z. 583): Song: Music for a while
02. I love and I must, Z. 382
03. The Comical History of Don Quixote, Part I (1694), Z. 578: Let the Dreadful Engines
04. The Fairy Queen (1692), Z. 629, adapted from Shakespeare “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”: Thrice happy lovers (Epithalamium)
05. Song: If music be the food of love (1st version, 1692), Z. 379A
06. Tell Me, Some Pityng Angel (The Blessed Virgin’s Expostulation), (1693), Z. 186
07. Not All My Torments, Z. 400
08. Close Thine Eyes and Sleep Secure (Upon a quiet conscience), (1688), Z. 184
09. King Arthur (1691), Z. 628: Fairest Isle
10. Pausanias (1695), Z. 585: Sweeter than roses
11. The Fatal Hour Comes Apace, Z. 421
12. Ode on Queen Mary’s Birthday (1693), Z. 321: Crown the Altar
13. The Indian Queen (1695), Z. 630: I attempt from Love’s Sickness to Fly
14. Bonduca (1695), Z. 574: O Lead Me to Some Peaceful Gloom
15. The Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian (1690), Z. 627: What Shall I Do to Show All Much I Love Her?
16. Don Quixote, Part III, Z. 578: From Rosy Bowers

Disc 2:
01. The Faerie Queen: Secrecie’s Song
02. The Faerie Queen: Mystery’s Song
03. Cantata “If ever I more riches did desire: Here let my life
04. Ode “Welcome to all pleasures: Here the Deities approve
05. Dioclesian: Since from my dear Astrea’s sight
06. The Faerie Queen: The Plaint
07. Ten Sonata in Four Parts (c. 1680): Sonata No. 9 in F (Golden Sonata), Z. 810: Allegro
08. Ten Sonata in Four Parts (c. 1680): Sonata No. 9 in F (Golden Sonata), Z. 810: Adagio
09. Ten Sonata in Four Parts (c. 1680): Sonata No. 9 in F (Golden Sonata), Z. 810: Canzona Allegro
10. Ten Sonata in Four Parts (c. 1680): Sonata No. 9 in F (Golden Sonata), Z. 810: Grave
11. Ten Sonata in Four Parts (c. 1680): Sonata No. 9 in F (Golden Sonata), Z. 810: Allegro
12. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 1-6: Song Tune in C, Z. T694
13. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 1-6: Con Spirito, Z. 647
14. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 1-6: March in C, Z. 648
15. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 1-6: New Minuet in D Minor, Z. T689
16. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 1-6: Minuet in A Minor, Z. 649
17. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 1-6: Minuet in A Minor, Z. 650
18. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 7-12: A New Scotch Tune in G, Z. 655
19. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 7-12: A New Ground in E Minor, Z. T682
20. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 7-12: A New Irish Tune, Z. 646
21. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 7-12: Rigadoon in C, Z. 653
22. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 7-12: Sefauchi’s Farewell, in D Minor, Z. 656
23. Musick’s Hand-made, Part II (1687): Music Lessons 7-12: Minuet in D Minor, Z. T688
24. Sonata in G Minor for Violin and Continuo, Z. 780: Adagio-Moderato
25. Sonata in G Minor for Violin and Continuo, Z. 780: Adagio con espressione
26. Sonata in G Minor for Violin and Continuo, Z. 780: Vivace
27. Suite in D for Harpsichord, Z. 667: Prelude
28. Suite in D for Harpsichord, Z. 667: Almand
29. Suite in D for Harpsichord, Z. 667: Hornpipe

Disc 3:
01. Dido and Aeneas: Overture
02. Dido and Aeneas: Shake the cloud from off your brow (Belinda; Chorus)
03. Dido and Aeneas: Ah! Belinda, I am press’d with torment (Dido)
04. Dido and Aeneas: Grief increases by concealing … (Belinda, Dido)
05. Dido and Aeneas: When monarchs unite, how happy their state (Chorus)
06. Dido and Aeneas: Whence could so much virtue spring (Dido, Belinda)
07. Dido and Aeneas: Fear no danger to ensue (Belinda, Second Woman; Chorus)
08. Dido and Aeneas: See, your royal guest appears (Belinda, Aeneas, Dido)
09. Dido and Aeneas: Cupid only throws the dart (Cupid)
10. Dido and Aeneas: If not for mine, for empire’s sake (Aeneas)
11. Dido and Aeneas: Pursue thy conquest, Love (Belinda)
12. Dido and Aeneas: To the hills and the vales (Chorus)
13. Dido and Aeneas: The Triumphing Dance
14. Dido and Aeneas: Prelude for the Witches
15. Dido and Aeneas: Wayward sisters, you that fright (Sorceress, First Witch)
16. Dido and Aeneas: Harm’s our delight and mischief all our skill (Chorus)
17. Dido and Aeneas: The Queen of Carthage, whom we hate (Sorceress)
18. Dido and Aeneas: Ha, ha, ha (Chorus)
19. Dido and Aeneas: Ruin’d ere the set of sun (Witches, Sorceress)
20. Dido and Aeneas: Ha, ha, ha (Chorus)
21. Dido and Aeneas: But ere we this perform (Witches)
22. Dido and Aeneas: In our deep vaulted cell (Chorus)
23. Dido and Aeneas: Echo Dance of the Furies
24. Dido and Aeneas: Ritornello
25. Dido and Aeneas: Thanks to these lonesome vales (Belinda, Chorus)
26. Dido and Aeneas: Oft she visits this lov’d mountain (Second Woman)
27. Dido and Aeneas: Behold, upon my bending spear (Aeneas, Dido)
28. Dido and Aeneas: Haste, haste to town (Belinda, Chorus)
29. Dido and Aeneas: Stay, Prince, and hear great Jove’s command (Spirit, Aeneas)
30. Dido and Aeneas: Prelude for the sailors
31. Dido and Aeneas: Come away, fellow sailors (First Sailor, Chorus)
32. Dido and Aeneas: The Sailors’ Dance
33. Dido and Aeneas: See the flags and streamers curling (Sorceress; Witches)
34. Dido and Aeneas: Our next motion (Sorceress)
35. Dido and Aeneas: Destruction’s our delight (Chorus)
36. Dido and Aeneas: The Witches’ Dance (Jack of the Lanthorn Dance)
37. Dido and Aeneas: Your counsel all is urg’d in vain (Dido, Belinda, Aeneas)
38. Dido and Aeneas: Great minds against themselves conspire (Chorus)
39. Dido and Aeneas: Thy hand, Belinda (Dido)
40. Dido and Aeneas: When I am laid in earth (Dido)
41. Dido and Aeneas: With drooping wings ye Cupids come (Chorus)

Disc 4:
01. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: Symphony
02. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: Hail! Bright Cecilia
03. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: Hark, each tree
04. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: ‘Tis nature voice
05. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: Soul of the world
06. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: Thou tun’st this world
07. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: With that sublime celestial lay
08. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: Wond’rous machine
09. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: The airy violin
10. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: In vain the am’rous flute
11. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: The Fife and all the Harmony of war
12. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: Let these among themselves contest
13. Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day: Hail! Bright Cecilia
14. Welcome to all the pleasures “Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day”, Z339: Ouverture (Sinfonia)
15. Welcome to all the pleasures “Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day”, Z339: Welcome to All the Pleasures
16. Welcome to all the pleasures “Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day”, Z339: Here the Deities approve (counter-tenor)
17. Welcome to all the pleasures “Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day”, Z339: While Joys Celestial (trio)
18. Welcome to all the pleasures “Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day”, Z339: Then Lift Up Your Voices (bass, chorus)
19. Welcome to all the pleasures “Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day”, Z339: Adagio (harpsichord)
20. Welcome to all the pleasures “Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day”, Z339: Beauty Thou Scene of Love (tenor)
21. Welcome to all the pleasures “Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day”, Z339: In a Consort of Voices (tenor, chorus)

Disc 5:
01. The Masque in Dioclesian: I. Solo (soprano) & Chorus: Call the Nymphs and the Fauns from woods
02. The Masque in Dioclesian: II. Air (soprano): Let the Graces and Pleasures repair
03. The Masque in Dioclesian: III. Duet (basses): Come, come away, no delay
04. The Masque in Dioclesian: IV. Chorus: Behold, O mighty’st of gods
05. The Masque in Dioclesian: V. Paspe (passepied) – instr.
06. The Masque in Dioclesian: VI. Duet (sopranos): Oh the sweet delights of love
07. The Masque in Dioclesian: VII. Air (soprano) & Chorus: Let monarchs fight for power and fame
08. The Masque In Dioclesian: VIII. Duet (Tenor And Baritone): Make Room For The Great God
09. The Masque in Dioclesian: IX. Solo (Bacchus) Trio & Chorus: I’m here with my jolly crew
10. The Masque in Dioclesian: X. Dance of Bacchanals – instr.
11. The Masque in Dioclesian: XI. Air (soprano): Still I’m wishing, stil desiring
12. The Masque in Dioclesian: (Ritornello – XII): Can Drusilla give no more ?
13. The Masque In Dioclesian: XIII. Canaries – Instr.
14. The Masque in Dioclesian: XIV. Dialogue (soprano and baritone): Tell me why, my charming fair
15. The Masque in Dioclesian: XV. Dance – instr.
16. The Masque in Dioclesian: XVI. Air (tenor) & Chorus: All our days and our nights
17. The Masque In Dioclesian: XVII. Dance – Instr.
18. The Masque In Dioclesian: XVIII. Trio & Chorus: Triumph Victorious Love
19. Instrumental Music for the Play: First Music
20. Instrumental Music for the Play: First Act Tune or Hornpipe
21. Instrumental Music for the Play: Interlude
22. Instrumental Music for the Play: Dance of the Furies
23. Instrumental Music for the Play: Second Act Tune
24. Instrumental Music for the Play: The Chair Dance
25. Instrumental Music for the Play: Third Act Tune
26. Instrumental Music for the Play: Interlude
27. Instrumental Music for the Play: Butterfly Dance
28. Instrumental Music for the Play: Country Dance

Disc 6:
01. Come, ye sons of art, Z323: Ouverture (Sinfonia)
02. Come, ye sons of art, Z323: Come, come, ye Sons of Art (counter-tenor, chorus)
03. Come, ye sons of art, Z323: Sound the trumpet till around (counter-tenors)
04. Come, ye sons of art, Z323: Come, come, ye Sons of Art (chorus)
05. Come, ye sons of art, Z323: Strike the viol (counter-tenor)
06. Come, ye sons of art, Z323: The day that such a blessing gave (bass, chorus)
07. Come, ye sons of art, Z323: Bid the Virtues (soprano, oboe)
08. Come, ye sons of art, Z323: These are the sacred charms that shield (bass)
09. Come, ye sons of art, Z323: See Nature, rejoicing (soprano, bass, chorus)
10. Rejoice in the Lord Alway “The Bell Anthem”, Z49
11. My beloved spake, Z23: Ouverture (Sinfonia)
12. My beloved spake, Z23: My Beloved Spake
13. My beloved spake, Z23: For, lo, the Winter is Past
14. My beloved spake, Z23: The Time of the Singing
15. My beloved spake, Z23: And the Voice of the Turtle
16. My beloved spake, Z23: The Fig Tree
17. My beloved spake, Z23: Arise
18. My beloved spake, Z23: My Beloved is mine
19. Ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell: Mark how the lark and linnet sing
20. Ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell: But in the close of the night
21. Ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell: So ceas’d the rival crew
22. Ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell: We beg not Hell
23. Ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell: The pow’r of harmony too well they knew
24. Ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell: The heav’nly choir
25. Ode on the death of Mr. Henry Purcell: Ye brethren of the lyre

outstanding

I grew up with these recordings. Alfred Deller puts many current countertenors to shame; he is musical and expressive, and his timbre is at once sweet and plangent. The Dido and Aeneas is a model. Love it!