Composer: Matthew Locke
Performer: Fretwork, Sergio Bucheli, Silas Wollston
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Signum
Catalogue: SIGCD728
Release: 2022
Size: 1.3 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Suite In G Minor (from the Little Consort)
01. I. Pavan
02. II Ayre
03. III. Courante
04. IV. Saraband
Suite No. 6 in F Major (from the Little Consort)
05. I. Pavan
06. II. Ayre
07. III. Courante
08. IV. Saraband
Suite No. 2 in C minor (from the Little Consort)
09. I. Pavan
10. II. Ayre
11. III. Courante
12. IV. Saraband
Suite No. 7 in G minor
13. I. Pavan
14. II. Ayre
15. III. Courante
16. IV. Saraband
Suite No. 3 in D minor
17. I. Pavan
18. II. Ayre
19. III. Courante
20. IV. Saraband
Suite No. 8 in A minor
21. I. Pavan
22. II. Ayre
23 .III. Courante
24. IV. Saraband
Suite No.4 In B-flat (from the Little Consort)
25. I. Pavan
26. II Ayre
27. III Courante
28. IV Saraband
Suite No. 9 in B flat (from the Little Consort)
29. I. Pavan
30. II. Ayre
31. III. Courante
32. IV. Saraband
Suite No. 5 in E minor
33. I. Pavan
34. II. Ayre
35. III. Courante
36. IV. Saraband
Suite No. 10 in D minor
37. I. Pavan
38. II. Ayre
39. III. Courante
40. IV. Saraband
The second Fretwork’s installment of works by Matthew Locke. 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.