MILTON. PEERSON Sublime Discourses

Research-led exploration of domestic Stuart chamber works

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Martin Peerson, John Milton

Genre:

Vocal

Label: Regent

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 62

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: REGCD341

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Keyboard Works, Movement: Fantasia 'Acquaintance' a 6 Martin Peerson, Composer
Fretwork
Martin Peerson, Composer
Keyboard Works, Movement: Almaine (G min) a 6 Martin Peerson, Composer
Fretwork
Martin Peerson, Composer
Keyboard Works, Movement: Fantasia 'Beauty' a 6 Martin Peerson, Composer
Fretwork
Martin Peerson, Composer
Keyboard Works, Movement: Almaine (G maj) a 6 Martin Peerson, Composer
Fretwork
Martin Peerson, Composer
Keyboard Works, Movement: Alman Martin Peerson, Composer
Martin Peerson, Composer
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Keyboard Works, Movement: Piper's Paven Martin Peerson, Composer
Martin Peerson, Composer
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Keyboard Works, Movement: Fantasia 'Chowse' Martin Peerson, Composer
Fretwork
Martin Peerson, Composer
Keyboard Works, Movement: Fantasia 'Delicate' a 6 Martin Peerson, Composer
Fretwork
Martin Peerson, Composer
Fantazias, Movement: Fantazia 1 (G maj) a 5 John Milton, Composer
Fretwork
John Milton, Composer
Fantazias, Movement: Fantazia 3 (G maj) a 5 John Milton, Composer
Fretwork
John Milton, Composer
Keyboard Works, Movement: Fantasia (D min) a 6 Martin Peerson, Composer
Fretwork
Martin Peerson, Composer
Keyboard Works, Movement: Almaine (D maj) a 6 Martin Peerson, Composer
Fretwork
Martin Peerson, Composer
Keyboard Works, Movement: Fantasia 'Attendite' a 5 Martin Peerson, Composer
Fretwork
Martin Peerson, Composer
Fantazias, Movement: Fantazia 2 (A min) a 5 John Milton, Composer
Fretwork
John Milton, Composer
Fantazias, Movement: Fantazia 4 (D min) a 5 John Milton, Composer
Fretwork
John Milton, Composer
In Nomine 'If that a sinner's sighs' John Milton, Composer
Fretwork
John Milton, Composer
Michael Chance, Countertenor
Michael Chance, Countertenor
Keyboard Works, Movement: Fantasia (G maj) a 6 Martin Peerson, Composer
Fretwork
Martin Peerson, Composer
Fantazias, Movement: Fantazia 5 (A min) a 6 John Milton, Composer
Fretwork
John Milton, Composer
Keyboard Works, Movement: Fall of the Leaf Martin Peerson, Composer
Martin Peerson, Composer
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Keyboard Works, Movement: Primrose Martin Peerson, Composer
Martin Peerson, Composer
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Sophie Yates, Virginal
Martin Peerson and John Milton (the poet’s father) were members of the lively musical community based in the area around the Gothic cathedral of St Paul’s during the early 17th century. All of their extant instrumental music is introduced here in a fascinating essay by its editor Richard Rastall, who observes that in 1676 Thomas Mace nostalgically looked back upon such domestic music-making in the early Stuart period as ‘Sublime Discourses’.This apt album title never seems far away during these exquisitely conversational performances of 20 consort pieces in five or six parts. Fretwork play with gentle mastery of affect, whether the blissfulness of Peerson’s G major Fantasia subtitled Beauty, the animated twisty modulations of his Chowse or the infectious dance-like pulse of his Almaine in D major. The few lyrical fantazias by Milton senior ought to dispel the myth that Puritans disliked music (they merely disapproved of elaborate music in church services), and the evocation of sublimity is also evident in Milton’s brief six-part In nomine ‘If that a sinner’s sighs sent from a soul oppressed’ (during which Michael Chance’s unsteady singing is drowned by the viols).

Sophie Yates exercises her beguiling touch in four keyboard pieces by Peerson, for which she uses a replica of Elizabeth I’s virginals (the Venetian original built c1570 is in the V&A). The generation of composers active in the years prior to the English Civil War is somewhat forgotten, so this harmonious match of Rastall’s scholarly research and Fretwork’s fine musicianship is priceless.

Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music. 

Stream on Presto Music | Buy from Presto Music

Gramophone Print

  • Print Edition

From £6.67 / month

Subscribe

Gramophone Digital Club

  • Digital Edition
  • Digital Archive
  • Reviews Database
  • Full website access

From £8.75 / month

Subscribe

                              

If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.