Vincent Dumestre - Purcell Hail! Bright Cecilia (2025) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Purcell embodies a glorious chapter in the history of his country, the Restoration, which saw the return of the monarchy after the bleak years of Olivier Cromwell’s regime. Stifled under the Puritans, musical life enjoyed a restoration of its own, when choirs and concert societies ushered in an era of harmony and celebration.

From 1683, a group of musicians, the Musical Society, began celebrating the feast of St Cecilia, the patron saint of music, every year on 23 November. For its first festival, the society commissioned a special ode from Purcell – the charming Welcome to all the pleasures. However, it was only in 1692 that the British Orpheus offered his heavenly guardian the full measure of his praise – Hail! Bright Cecilia – which crowned the festivities. Almost an hour of music to the glory of… music, from the contrasting movements of the opening to the exultations of the final chorus, via the divine fervour of its airs, it is a celebration of the voice, sometimes in conversation with the loving flute, at others with the radiant trumpet. Brilliant concerts for an exuberant age.

TRACKLIST

1. Vincent Dumestre - Welcome Every Guest: I. Symphony
2. Vincent Dumestre - Welcome Every Guest: II. Welcome Every Guest
3. Vincent Dumestre - Welcome Every Guest: III. The Sacred Nine
4. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: I. Introduction: No. 1, Symphony - Canzona
5. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: I. Introduction: No. 2, Adagio
6. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: I. Introduction: No. 3, Canzona. Adagio
7. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: I. Introduction: No. 4, Allegro - Grave - Allegro
8. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: II. Hail! Bright Cecilia
9. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: III. Hark! Hark! Each Tree
10. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: IV. ‘Tis Nature’s Voice
11. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: V. Soul of the World!
12. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: VI. Thou Tun’st This World
13. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: VII. With that Sublime Celestial Lay
14. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: VIII. Wondrous Machine!
15. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: IX. The Airy Violin
16. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: X. In Vain the Am’rous Flute
17. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: XI. The Fife and All the Harmony of War
18. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: XII. Let These Amongst Themselves Contest
19. Vincent Dumestre - Hail! Bright Cecilia, Z. 238: XIII. Hail! Bright Cecilia



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