Composer: John Dowland, Henry Purcell, Melchior Schildt
Performer: Margret Koell
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Accent
Catalogue: ACC24387
Release: 2022
Size: 1.08 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Purcell: Suite No. 4 in A minor, Z 663
01. I. Prelude
02. II. Almand
03. III. Corant
04. IV. Saraband
05. Purcell: Hornpipe in E minor, Z. T685
06. Dowland: Tremolo’ Fancy (P73)
07. Dowland: Can she excuse my wrongs? (First Booke of Songes, 1597)
08. Dowland: Frog Galliard
09. Dowland: Semper Dowland Semper Dolens
10. Purcell: Minuet in D minor, Z T688
Purcell: Suite No. 7 in D minor, Z 668
11. I. Almand
12. II. Corant
13. III. Hornpipe
Dowland: Second Booke of Songs
14. No. 2, Flow My Tears (Arr. M. Köll for Harp)
15. Dowland: Dowland’s First Galliard
16. Purcell: A New Ground in E minor, Z. T682
17. Dowland: Farewell (Fantasie No. 3)
18. Purcell: A New Scotch Tune Z 655
19. Purcell: A New Irish Tune Z646
20. Schildt: Paduana Lachrymae (after J. Dowland)
21. Purcell: Minuet in A minor, Z 650
Purcell: Suite No. 2 in G minor, Z 661
22. Prelude (Arr. M. Köll for Harp)
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
23. When I Am Laid in Earth “Dido’s Lament” (Arr. M. Köll for Harp)
This CD presents works by the two famous British composers John Dowland and Henry Purcell, played by Margret Koell on the Welsh Triple Harp.
Since 2020, Margret Koell, a specialist in historical harps, has been in possession of a “Welsh Triple Harp”. It is a copy of an instrument by the famous harp maker Evans, whose original from 1736 is kept on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
The Welsh triple harp is a later development of those found in 16th century Italy. These Italian triple harps first appeared in Britain in the early 17th century, during the reign of King Charles II. The Italian harps were adopted by Welsh harpists living in London at the time, and quickly became known as Welsh harps.
The Welsh triple harp consists of three rows of strings; the bass row, middle row and treble row. The bass and treble rows are tuned in unison to the diatonic scale. Today the Welsh triple harp can be heard predominantly through Welsh folk music.
Despite the long-standing harp tradition on the British Isles, there is no original literature for the harp from this period. Instead, Koell transcribes compositions for lute or keyboard instruments with very little alteration. The pieces by Dowland and Purcell are characterised by a melancholy that was popular in their time, often combined with a light, dance-like impression. Margret Koell takes us on a “silent dance”, into the mood of an early autumn day.