Seventeenth century English composer John Jenkins wrote hundreds of pieces for various combinations of viols and for a while they constituted the most popular body of work for amateur English musicians to play at home with family and friends. The fantasies, In Nomines, and pavans for a consort of six viols collected here require a level of virtuosity that leaves one with the impression that seventeenth century English amateurs must have taken their music very seriously. In the program notes, Laurence Dreyfus, the founder of ...
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Seventeenth century English composer John Jenkins wrote hundreds of pieces for various combinations of viols and for a while they constituted the most popular body of work for amateur English musicians to play at home with family and friends. The fantasies, In Nomines, and pavans for a consort of six viols collected here require a level of virtuosity that leaves one with the impression that seventeenth century English amateurs must have taken their music very seriously. In the program notes, Laurence Dreyfus, the founder of Phantasm, comments that there are no "viola" parts in these pieces, meaning that unlike Classical-era quartets favored by many contemporary amateurs, every part is equally important and equally demanding. The quartet of viols, Phantasm, joined by Emilia Benjamin and Mikko Perkola, performs Jenkins' pieces with pure but lush tone, a warm blend, and attention to expressive details. The pieces are densely contrapuntal and stand in marked contrast with the light airs and dances that...
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