Listen & tracks

1 of 18 tracks have a preview · 18 works · 53:56

1 Sweeter than Roses Henry Purcell 2:40
2 When first Amintas su'd for a Kiss Henry Purcell 2:15
3 Lysander I persue in vain John Blow 5:25
4 If Musick be the Food of Love Henry Purcell (First Setting) 2:01
5 I burn, my Brain consumes to Ashes John Eccles 3:06
6 Whilst I with Grief did on you look Henry Purcell 2:21
7 Cupid the slyest rogue alive Henry Purcell 2:33
8 I Attempt from Love's sickness Henry Purcell 1:30
9 Bess of Bedlam Henry Purcell 3:58
10 Ah! How sweet it is to love Henry Purcell 2:30
11 Farweel bonny Wully Craig Samuel Akeroyde 2:50
12 From Rosy Bow'rs Henry Purcell 6:32
13 Cupid once, when weary grown Pelham Humfrey 2:11
14 Beneath a Poplar's shadow lay me Henry Purcell 2:00
15 Musick for a while Henry Purcell 2:47
16 If Musick be the Food of Love Henry Purcell (Second Setting) 3:42
17 Dear, Pritty Youth Henry Purcell 2:02
18 Where art thou, God of Dreams? Giovanni Battista Draghi 3:33

Vivien Hamilton gives the songs the lyricism and dramatic edge they require, with sensitive support from Priscilla Taylor and Margaret Waugh.

Melbourne-based since 1992, the Orpheus Ensemble specialises in English and Italian music of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. This collection gathers theatre songs from the last decades of the century, chiefly by Henry Purcell, with works by Blow, Eccles, Akeroyde, Humfrey and Draghi that set his stage airs in their wider Restoration context.

Reviews

delightfully presented

— Barbara Hebden, The Sunday Mail

This collection of Restoration songs is beautifully presented. The ensemble is sensitive to the stylistic requirements of the era, and provides a perfect accompaniment to Vivien Hamilton's spectacular soprano voice.

— Emma Runciman, Radio News 3BBR FM

very clear reproduction, a lot of variety

— Cliff Tucker, Radio Fremantle

Artists

Orpheus Ensemble

ensemble

Featuring the talents of Vivien Hamilton (soprano), Margaret Waugh (baroque cello) and Priscilla Taylor (harpsichord), the Melbourne-based ‘Orpheus Ensemble’ has been performing together since 1992. It specialises in exploring English and Italian music of the 17th and early 18th century.

John Blow

composer

John Blow composed theatre songs for Restoration drama in late seventeenth-century England.

Henry Purcell

composer

Henry Purcell (c. 1659–1695) was an English organist and composer of the middle Baroque. His sacred music, theatre songs, instrumental works and the opera Dido and Aeneas shaped a distinctly English Baroque style.