Video of the Day: Rachel Podger performs the 'Prelude-Allegro' by Richard Jones
Jonathan Whiting
Friday, April 12, 2024
The celebrated violinist is joined by Brecon Baroque on a brand new album of English music from the 17th and early 18th centuries
Let us take you back to 1735 with today's Video of the Day. The Prelude and Allegro, performed here by previous Gramophone Artist of the Year Rachel Podger, come from Chamber Airs in A Minor written by lesser known English composer Richard Jones. Podger is joined by the Brecon Baroque ensemble in their brand new album 'The Muses Restor'd' (releasing 25 May) which champions the music written in England during the 17th and early 18th centuries. From the likes of George Frideric Handel and Henry Purcell to Thomas Baltzar and Richard Jones.
Richard Jones (c1680 – 1744) was best known at the time as a theatrical composer. He held a position at the Drury Lane Theatre as the orchestra leader for much of his life until his death. There are records of several of his masques and pantomimes (proto-operatic forms with varying amounts of spoken dialogue interspersed with music) being performed at the theatre but all scores have since been lost – the only survivor being a keyboard reduction of an overture. It is certainly a shame considering the sublime intricacies of this Chamber Air.