Hyperion Records

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 ©