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The Duet by Gerard Ter Borch (1617-1681)
The National Trust, Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire
Track(s) taken from CDH55303

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Purcell’s short setting of Nathaniel Ingelo’s We sing to him, whose wisdom form’d the ear dates from 1688 and was published in volume 1 of Harmonia Sacra. Once again the composer demonstrates his responsiveness to the text, pointing important words and phrases. The imperative ‘hear’ leaps up an octave, the ‘spring of mirth’ curls down the scale, and ‘harmony’ is richly scored. The ‘humble sonnets’ rise as they ‘that praise rehearse’, and Purcell’s harmony ingeniously sorts itself out for ‘music’. For the chorus the soprano is joined by a bass, and they dance ‘whilst we sing’ and ‘consecrate our art’: the music rises gloriously as they ‘offer up with ev’ry tongue a heart’.

from notes by Robert King ©

Recording details: April 1988
Radley College, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Produced by Nicholas Parker
Engineered by Nicholas Parker
Release date: April 1989
Total duration: 2 minutes 15 seconds

We sing to him whose wisdom form'd the ear, Z199
composer
1688; Harmonia Sacra 1
author of text
Other recordings available for download
Susan Gritton (soprano), Michael George (bass), The King's Consort, Robert King (conductor)

Other albums featuring this work
'Purcell: The Complete Anthems and Services, Vol. 5' (CDA66656)
'Purcell: The Complete Sacred Music' (CDS44141/51)
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