Paladian Ensemble - A Choice Collection: Music of Purcell's London (1996)

The “choice collection” of “music of Purcell’s London” is of items such as might have been heard at the concerts of then contemporary music held on the premises of Thomas Britton, the “small coal man”, surely one of the most ‘unlikely’ patrons in the history of music. It is in effect complementary to the Palladian Ensemble’s earlier disc (“An Excess of Pleasure”, also on Linn Records, 7/93), with another liberal helping of Matteis’s various and sometimes agreeably bizarre Ayres and two more of Locke’s Broken Consorts, which we find absorbing rather than confusing – as Charles II did. John Weldon and Henry Butler are newcomers to the catalogue, the former with what amounts to an irregularly ordered suite, the latter with splendid variations on Callino Casturame in which Susanne Heinrich plays most expressively – and shows that chords played on the viola da gamba do not have to sound like teeth being pulled. Old Simon the King could not have been heard in Purcell’s own time in this anonymous setting from The division flute of 1706, though it might have featured in one of Britton’s concerts, but the tune was printed as early as 1652.
If you are not already aware of the high quality of the instrumental playing, stylish musicality, imaginative approach and oneness of the Palladian Ensemble, read any review of their previous recordings; this disc provides as good an opportunity as any to find what you have been missing. Youth is at the helm in what amounts to (and sounds like) a joyous voyage of discovery. Join them on board. Music for pleasure is not just another record label!