[ Decca SBS Australian Eloquence / 2 CD ]
Release Date: Sunday 1 September 2013
The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book is one of the most important collections of keyboard music of the 16th century. Recorded to accompany the Folio Society's publication Music at Court (also written by Christopher Hogwood), this collection was imaginatively distributed to the Society's members, together with suitable vintages to accompany the literary titles. To suit the music - by Farnaby, Byrd, Philips, Peerson and Bull, together with anonymous compositions - the recordings were made on different keyboard instruments: virginal, organ, harpsichord and spinet. The recording received critical acclaim was a Gramophone Award nominee in 1983. This marks its first international release on CD. The booklet includes the original LP sleeve notes as well as a new introduction for the reissue penned by Hogwood himself.
"The present performances, in a recording of exemplary fidelity and clarity, are shapely and always alive. Hogwood can preserve a long line where needed, or infuse an infectious springiness into dance tunes like Watkin's ale. Decorative passages are fluently played" (Gramophone)