Composer: Matthew Locke
Performer: Fretwork, Silas Wollston, David Miller
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Signum
Catalogue: SIGCD696
Release: 2022
Size: 1.27 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
The Flat Consort for my cousin Kemble: Suite No. 1 in C minor
01. I. Fantazia
02. II. Courante
03. III. Fantazia
04. IV. Saraband
05. V. Fantazia
06. VI. Jigg
Suite in C major: Duos for Two Bass Viols No. 4
07. I. Fantazia
08. II. Fantazia
09. III. Courant
10. IV. Fantazia
11. V. Fantazia
12. VI. Saraband
The Flat Consort for my cousin Kemble: Suite No. 2 in B flat major
13. I. Fantazia
14. II. Courant
15. III. Fantazia
16. IV. Saraband
17. V. Fantazia
18. VI. Jigg
The Flat Consort for my cousin Kemble: Suite No. 3 in D minor
19. I. Fantazia
20. II. Courante
21. III. Fantazia
22. IV. Saraband
Suite in D major: Duos for Two Bass Viols No. 2
23. I. Fantazia
24. II. Fantazia
25. III. Courant
26. IV. Fantazia
27. V. Fantazia
28. VI. Saraband
The Flat Consort for my cousin Kemble: Suite No. 4 in B flat major
29. I. Fantazia
30. II. Galliard
31. III. Fantazia
32. IV. Saraband
The Flat Consort for my cousin Kemble: Suite No. 5 in A minor
33. I. Fantazia
34. II. Galliard
35. III. Fantazia
36. IV. Saraband
Matthew Locke was born 400 years ago in 1622, and while he is often ranked as one of England’s finest composers, he is still unaccountably neglected: his music may not be as immediately appealing as his immediate successor, Henry Purcell, nor as wide-ranging as William Byrd, yet his forceful musical personality and luxuriant technique place him in the first echelon of English composers, with his works described by Richard Boothby of Fretwork as having a “quixotic, capricious restlessness that is constantly challenging the listener to follow his argument… a thrilling musical ride.”
Accompanying Fretwork on continuo for this recording are David Miller (archlute and theorbo) and Silas Wollston (harpsichord).
The cover of the album bares an inscription in the walls by the choir stall of Exeter Cathedral, thought to have been carved by the composer during his time as a member of the choir there.
In 2021, Fretwork celebrated its 35th Anniversary. In the past three and a half decades they have explored the core repertory of great English consort music, from Taverner to Purcell, and made classic recordings against which others are judged. Their recent critically-praised releases with Signum include ‘If’ and ‘Lamento’ – both with counter-tenor Iestyn Davies – and ‘In Nomine 2’