In Handel’s Shadow: Vocal Music by his Rivals in 18th-Century London
The figure of George Frideric Handel cast a long shadow over musical London in the first half of the eighteenth century, condemning many of his contemporaries – fine composers themselves – to long years of obscurity. This recording throws light into forgotten corners and discovers some glittering gems, some of them demanding dazzling vocal fireworks from their performers. Several of these composers set scenes from Classical mythology or Old Testament narratives – but they also explore the underside of the Baroque psyche in one of David’s darkest psalms and in a representation of Arcadian madness.
Lux et Umbrae
Robert Crowe, soprano and artistic director
Annette Fischer, soprano
Julia Nilsen-Savage, cello
Sigrun Richter, archlute
Michael Eberth, harpsichord
Johann Ernst Galliard (1666/87-1747)
The Hymn of Adam and Eve (publ. 1728)* (22:22)
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- Recit: These are Thy glorious Works (1:22) Audio Player
- Duet: And with Songs and Choral Symphonies (1:44) Audio Player
- Recit.: Fairest of the Stars, last in the Train of Night (0:29) Audio Player
- Aria: Praise him in thy Spheare (0:53) Audio Player
- Recit.:Thou Sun of the great World (0:21) Audio Player
- Aria: Sound his Praise in thy Eternal Course (2:03) Audio Player
- Recit.: Moon, that now meet’st the Orient Sun (0:35) Audio Player
- Aria: Resound his Praise (0:42) Audio Player
- Recit.: Air, and ye Elements (0:41) Audio Player
- Aria: Let your ceaseless Change (1:24) Audio Player
- Recit.: Ye Mists, and Exhalations (0:52) Audio Player
- Aria: Rising or Falling, still advance his Praise (1:07) Audio Player
- Recit.: His Praise, ye Winds (0:53) Audio Player
- Aria: in Sign of Worship wave (1:36) Audio Player
- Recit: Fountains, and ye, that warble (0:16) Audio Player
- Aria: warbling tune his Praise (1:09) Audio Player
- Duet: Joyn Voices, all ye living Souls (2:04) Audio Player
- Duet: Ye that in Waters glide (1:23) Audio Player
- Duet: Hail! Universal Lord (0:41) Audio Player
- Duet: Disperce it (2:07)
Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707) arr. Richard John Samuel Stevens (1757-1837)
Psalm 13: How long wilt Thou forget me?*
from Sacred Music, Vol. 2 (publ. 1801)
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- Aria, Largo Andante: ‘How long wilt Thou forget me?’ (3:23) Audio Player
- Recit., Slow: ‘Let mine enemy say’ (1:05) Audio Player
- Aria, Andante: ‘But my truth is in thy mercy’ (1:40)
Maurice Greene (1969-1755)
- Orpheus with his Lute from A Cantata and 4 English Songs (publ. 1745/46) (4:37)
Elisabetta de Gambarini (1730-65)
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- Behold and listen* from Lessons for the Harpsichord, intermix’d with Italian and English Songs (publ. 1748) (4:67)
Johann Ernst Galliard
Apollo and Daphne* From Six English Cantas after the Italian Manner (publ. 1716) (9:54)
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- Recit.: ‘Daphne, the beautyfull, the Coy’ (1:05) Audio Player
- Aria, Largo and Affetuoso: ‘Turn thee, Leave thy trembling fear!’ Audio Player
- Recit.: ‘The River’s Ecchoing Banks’ (0:57) Audio Player
- Aria, Presto: ‘Father Peneus’ (1:55) Audio Player
- Recit.: ‘Apollo wond’ring stodd’ (0:53) Audio Player
- Aria, Andante: ‘Nature alone can Love inspire’ (1:51)
Henry Carey (c. 1688-1743)
Cantata: ‘I go to the Elisian Shade’ (a Mad Song)* from Cantatas for a Voice with Accompanyment (publ. 1724)(8:39)
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- Recit.: ‘I go to the Elisian Shade’ (1:04) Audio Player
- Aria: Allegro, ‘I fly from Celia’s cold disdain’ (0:46) Audio Player
- Recit.: ‘Her Eyes are Brighter’ (0:43) Audio Player
- Aria: Lento, ‘See yonder River’s flowing Tide’ (0:49) Audio Player
- Recit.: ‘There have I wept’ (1:07) Audio Player
- Aria: Affettuoso – Vivace – Presstissimo: ‘Pity my Pains, ye gentle Swains’ (1:39) Audio Player
- Recit.: ‘Where Yelling and Howling and Grumbling and Growling’ (1:26) Audio Player
- Aria: ‘To some Peaceful Plain convey me’ (1:05)
John Blow (1649-1708)
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- Prelude in A minor (c. 1700) (3:00)
Maurice Greene arr. Richard John Samuel Stevens
Psalm 119: Blessed are those that are undefiled* from Sacred Music, Vol. 2 (publ. 1801) (5:51)
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- Duet: Largo, ‘Blessed are those that are undefiled’ (1:18) Audio Player
- Recit.: ‘Thou hast Charged’ (0:26) Audio Player
- Aria: Andante, ‘O that my ways were made so direct’ (1:53) Audio Player
- Duetto: Vivace, ‘Then will I talk of Thy Commandments’ (2:14)
*First Recordings
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