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Track(s) taken from CDH55244

In the black dismal dungeon of despair, Z190

composer
1688
composer
1960; realization of piano part
author of text

Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), Roger Vignoles (piano)
Recording details: April 1991
Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, Hampstead, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Mark Brown
Engineered by Antony Howell
Release date: March 1992
Total duration: 4 minutes 32 seconds
 

Other recordings available for download

Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), Graham Johnson (piano)

Reviews

‘A superlative Hyperion disc … most notable is the Hyperion team presided over by Anthony Rolfe Johnson, whose 1991 recording has become one of the jewels in the record label's crown … Rolfe Johnson's pairing with countertenor Michael Chance in Abraham and Isaac is deeply moving as they enact what is essentially a miniature drama, and the tenor's mellifluous singing is a joy throughout this disc’ (The Daily Telegraph)
In the black dismal dungeon of despair and Evening hymn (‘Now that the sun hath veiled his light’) both appear in Book 1 of Harmonia Sacra: or, Divine Hymns and Dialogues, first published in 1688. The words of both are by Dr William Fuller (‘late Lord Bishop of Lincoln’) and are devotional pieces, the first being a plea for mercy and redemption, and the second, ostensibly a prayer on going to bed, has allegorical implications of the feeling of resignation in the face of death, so that the ‘evening’ referred to could well be the twilight of life itself. Purcell sets these subtle words to an expressive melody over a five-bar ground bass, with slowly-changing harmonies, sensitively realized by Britten in his piano interpretation.

from notes by Michael Short © 1992

In the black dismal dungeon of despair et Evening hymn font tous deux partie du Livre I d’Harmonia sacra: or, Divine Hymns and Dialogues, qui parut en 1688. Les deux textes sont des prières de William Fuller («ancien évêque de Lincoln»). La première demande miséricorde et rédemption, et la seconde, une prière du soir, contient des allusions allégoriques au sentiment de résignation face à la mort: le «soir» en question pourrait bien être en fait le crépuscule de la vie. Purcell accompagne ces textes raffinés d’une mélodie expressive sur une basse obstinée de cinq mesures, aux harmonies subtilement changeantes, réalisées avec sensibilité par Britten dans son interprétation de piano.

extrait des notes rédigées par Michael Short © 1992
Français: Elisabeth Rhodes

In the black dismal dungeon of despair und Evening hymn („Now that the sun hath veil’d his light“) sind beide im ersten Band von Harmonia Sacra: or Divine Hymns and Dialogues enthalten, der 1688 veröffentlicht wurde. Die Texte stammen von Dr William Fuller („dem ehemaligen Bischof von Lincoln“) und waren zu Andachtszwecken bestimmt. Der erste ist eine Bitte um Gnade und Erlösung, während der zweite, offenbar ein Gutenachtgebet, allegorisch auf das Gefühl der Resignation im Angesicht des Todes anspielt: Mit dem „Abend“, von dem darin die Rede ist, könnte darum durchaus der Lebensabend gemeint sein. Purcell versieht diese feinsinnigen Worte mit einer expressiven Melodie über einen fünf taktigen Baßostinato langsam wechselnder Harmonien, und Britten setzt sie in seiner Klavierinterpretation feinfühlig um.

aus dem Begleittext von Michael Short © 1992
Deutsch: Anne Steeb/Bernd Müller

Other albums featuring this work

Britten: Complete Purcell Realizations
CDD220582CDs Dyad (2 for the price of 1)
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