Handel, Boyce and Blow [IMPORT]

John Blow (Composer), William Boyce (Composer), George Frederick Handel (Composer), John Scott (Conductor), Parley of Instruments (Performer), Alastair Cook (Performer), Andrew Dale Forbes (Performer), Ashley Stafford (Performer), Edward Burrowes (Performer), Julia Gooding (Performer), Mark Le Brocq (Performer), Robin Blaze (Performer), Rogers Covey-Crump (Performer), Sophie Daneman (Performer), Timothy Burtt (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Parley of Instruments, Alastair Cook, Andrew Dale Forbes, Ashley Stafford, Edward Burrowes, et al.
• Conductor: John Scott
• Composer: John Blow, William Boyce, George Frederick Handel
• Audio CD (June 9, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B000007SZL
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #463,930 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #45 in	Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Baroque (c.1600-1750) > Composers > Boyce, William - Works by Boyce
  #45 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( B ) > Boyce, William

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This disc seemed so promising: the centerpieces are Handel's magnificent Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate; the Parley of Instruments has a history of fine recordings; there's a fine line-up of soloists. Unfortunately, the performance is near disastrous. The St. Paul's choir is way out of its depth: the blend is awful and the poor trebles are reduced to shouting. John Scott's unvarying plod makes no distinction between soft, beautiful sections for soloists with flute or strings and triumphant climaxes for choir and brass. The Blow and Boyce come off better, if only because there's less music for the choir, but they're not worth the price of the disc. Keep your eyes peeled for a reissue by Decca of the Hogwood/Preston recording of the Handel--it really is magnificent. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, October 20, 2006

By	George Peabody "Ariel" (Carlisle,Pa. USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

HANDEL, BOYCE AND EVEN BLOW CAN PUT ON QUITE A DANDY SHOW, BUT TO THIS DISC I MUST SAY 'NO'.
The selections on this disc consisting of four notable pieces by Handel, Blow and Boyce were written for St. Pauls' between 1697 and 1755. Although the day-to-day choral services at St. Paul's were accompanied just by the organ, as it is today, for special state occasions an orchestra was present to accompany at least one of the anthems, and the 'Te Deum' and ''Jubilate', This type of anthem is referred to as a 'symphony anthem'.

The 'Utrecht Te Deum' and the 'Jubilate' was a turning point in Handel's career because it was the first piece of major religious music that he wrote using the English language.

I purchased this recording based on the line-up of soloists, most of whom are quite accomplished singers in their own right; singers such as Alastair Cook,Robin Blaze,Ashley Stafford, Mark Le Brocq, but it truly is a poorly done album; not necessarily because of the soloists, but there are so many musical flaws: poor choral singing; sometimes dlstorted because of over-singing, very poor diction and balance between the voices. The pitch is not all that great, either. And it's frustrating, because the musical selections have so much potential. Anyway, there are much better renditions of these compositions. Look for them.