English Harpsichord Works
David Pollock (harpsichord)
rec. St. Martin’s Church, East Woodhay, Hampshire, 23-25 July 2013
MUSIC & MEDIA MMC112 [78.28]
In his excellent and scholarly booklet notes to accompany
this disc, David Pollock describes this selection as “a personal
anthology of English harpsichord music”, and for me this is what
makes this disc so interesting. The disc spans nearly 150 years of music-making
from William Byrd to William Croft, and the point that the music means
something to Pollock is not lost in the performance which is one of
great dexterity and feeling.
The majority of the music on this disc is given over to the music of
Henry Purcell, with his 3rd, 5th and 6th
Suites taking pride of place. Here Pollock gives performances of great
contrast and feeling, and this is carried over into the shorter accompanying
pieces. In comparison with Oliver Beaumont’s reading of the six
suites for Warner (2564 69139-0), I find Pollock’s more nuanced
and infinitely preferable. I only wish he had gone on to record the
remaining suites.
William Byrd is a composer that I have been listening to a lot lately,
with the Davitt Moroney box of the complete keyboard music on Hyperion
(CDS44461/7) forming the mainstay of this appreciation. The problem
with Byrd’s music is that in a lot of cases no instrument is stated,
and in the five pieces that have been included here, only All in
a Garden Greene shares a harpsichord in the Moroney set. Pollock
proves himself an excellent interpreter of Byrd’s music with these
five interpretations proving to be more than just alternatives to the
Moroney.
Of the remaining items on this disc, whilst I have some music by John
Blow and William Croft, I do not have the piece presented here. Both
suites are well constructed and varied in style. The fact that Pollock’s
performance of this music is so persuasive that I am seeking further
recordings of this fine music speaks for itself. This music might be
new to some, but it does deserve to be here and be heard in its own
right. It is not here as an afterthought but plays an integral part
in this recital.
Mention must be made of the instrument. It is a modern copy by Anne
and Ian Tucker of a 1636 Ruckers single manual harpsichord, which has
itself been converted to a double manual in 1763 by Henri Hemsch. The
result has a beautiful consistent tone, and sounds finer than those
employed by both Beaumont and Moroney. As mentioned above, David Pollock’s
notes are excellent, and the acoustic of St. Martin’s Church seems
to suit this instrument perfectly. This disc proves to be an excellent
introductory survey of this often forgotten aspect of English music.
Stuart Sillitoe
Track listing
Henry PURCELL (1659-1695)
Suite 5 in C [5:36]
Ground in C minor [3:31]
William BYRD (c.1540-1623)
The Carman’s Whistle [4:51]
Henry PURCELL
Prelude in A minor [0:44]
John BLOW (1649-1708)
Suite in A minor [9:40]
William BYRD
Hughe Ashton’s Grownde [8:40]
Henry PURCELL
Suite 3 in G [6:00]
Chaconne in G minor [2:59]
William BYRD
The Mayden’s Songe [6:43]
William CROFT (1678-1727)
Suite 10 in E minor [8:41]
Henry PURCELL
A New Ground [2:31]
William BYRD
Will Yow Walke the Woodes Soe Wylde [4:43]
Henry PURCELL
Suite 6 in D [9:14]
John BLOW
Ground in D minor [3:51]
William BYRD
All in a Garden Greene [5:08]
