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The second and final CD of Concordia’s complete collection of music for viol consort by Orlando Gibbons, one of Britain’s most striking composers. These recordings feature the six-part Fantasies which are the crowning glory of his output; to hear a few bars is enough to recognize that we are dealing with chamber music on a par with the string quartets of Mozart and Haydn. Also included are the six fantasias for two treble viols and three consort songs in which Concordia are joined by soprano Rachel Elliott.
"Concordia's treatment is the most illuminating of all for its sense of the music's shape and thought. We get a strong feeling here of rolling paragraphs and episodes, guided by a tightly governed momentum from among the performers as a group, and an awareness of the viol fantasy genre as a kind of dramatic dialogue in notes. Indeed, Levy believes the consort sets had their premiere in a theatre. His programme note is exemplary in its stylishness and detail"
(International Record Review on competing releases in Lawes' 500th anniversary year, 2002)
"Be careful you might get hooked"
(The Times)
"Concordia's treatment is the most illuminating of all for its sense of the music's shape and thought. We get a strong feeling here of rolling paragraphs and episodes, guided by a tightly governed momentum from among the performers as a group, and an awareness of the viol fantasy genre as a kind of dramatic dialogue in notes. Indeed, Levy believes the consort sets had their premiere in a theatre. His programme note is exemplary in its stylishness and detail"
(International Record Review on competing releases in Lawes' 500th anniversary year, 2002)
"Be careful you might get hooked"
(The Times)