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John Jenkins: The Pleasing Slumber, Aires for a treble, lyra, bass and harpsichord
Posted by Paul Ballyk on Aug 24, 2013 in Baroque | 0 comments
The third album from the small Flora label to be recommended on Expedition Audio is this program devoted entirely to the music of early baroque composer John Jenkins titled The Pleasing Slumber; it's subtitled Aires for a Treble, Lyra, Base and Harpsecord (sic). The performances are by Sophie Gent (violin), Romina Lischka (lyra and bass viol), François Guerrier (harpsichord & organ) and Philippe Pierlot (lyra viol & bass viol) who play in different combinations of two, three and four instruments.
John Jenkins (1592-1678) lived a long and productive life that saw many changes in English music. Dying at the age of eighty-six, his career overlapped those of William Byrd and Henry Purcell. His most illustrious near contemporaries included Henry Lawes, Jacob Praetorius, Heinrich Schütz and Girolamo Frescobaldi. He is cited for having refined the consort fantasia for viols, continuing the work of Gibbons and Copraria from the preceding generation. Consort music of this period often had a melancholy air to it and indeed, much of Jenkins' music on this album is quiet and somber. However, a good number of these pieces are actually rather jaunty. Differing in character, two are provided as samples - a buoyant Saraband and the title track for the album, an Aire titled The Pleasing Slumber.
If you're interested in exploring more music like this, some of the masters of the viol consort include John Dowland, Anthony Holborne and William Byrd from the early Baroque and Matthew Locke and Henry Purcell from a little later on.
John Jenkins died at the age of 86. During his long career, he was appreciated both for his musical and human qualities. This recording explores two particular aspects of his abundant and varied compositions: the lyra-viol consorts and the virtuoso fancy-suites for violin, bass viol, and organ.
Source: HBDirect.com
Track List
1. Pavine, 06:18
2. Almaine, 03:08
3. Coranto, 01:38
4. Saraband, 01:12
5. Sonata, 05:30
6. Aire, 02:09
7. Coranto, 01:19
8. Saraband, 01:08
9. Fantasy, 05:05
10. Ayre, 04:10
11. Corant, 02:25
12. The 5 Bells, 06:18
13. Pavan, 03:38
14. Ecco Coranto, 02:39
15. Fantasy, 05:49
16. Almand, 03:44
17. Corant, 02:16
18. Almaine, 02:57
19. Coranto, 01:58
20. Saraband, 02:04
21. The pleasing slumber, 03:22
Source: Flora
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John Jenkins, composer Little is known of his early life. The son of Henry Jenkins, a carpenter who occasionally made musical instruments, he may have been the “Jack Jenkins” employed in the household of Anne, Countess of Warwick in 1603. The first positive historical record of Jenkins is amongst the musicians who performed the masque The Triumph of Peace in 1634 at the court of King Charles I. Jenkins was considered a virtuoso on the lyra viol. King Charles I of England commented that Jenkins did “wonders on an inconsiderable instrument. |
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Philippe Pierlot, bass viol |
Philippe Pierlot, bass viol & lyra viol Philippe Pierlot directs the Ricercar Consort ensemble with whom he interprets mostly works of the 17th century, revealing unknown compositions to the public. Several contemporary pieces were written for him, and he is also one of the rare “baryton” players, very peculiar instrument for which Haydn wrote more than 150 trios and other pieces. |
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Sophie Gent, violin |
Sophie Gent, violin Sophie Gent was born in Perth, Western Australia. After completing a Bachelors degree in modern violin studies there, she subsequently enrolled at the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague with Ryo Terakado, and completed her Masters degree with the highest distinction in 2005. Since completing her studies Sophie has become increasingly sought after as a soloist and chamber musician; performing, touring and recording with numerous leading early music ensembles. |
François Guerrier, harpsichord & organ |
François Guerrier, harpsichord & organ The French harpsichordist and organist, François Guerrier, began learning the harpsichord and basso continuo at the Conservatoire national de région of Caen with Bibiane Lapointe and Thierry Maeder. François Guerrier has embarked on an exceptional career as harpsichordist, and has been remarked for his solo performances as well as for his chamber and vocal music. He is invited as a soloist to various festivals in France and abroad. |
Romina Lischka, bass viol & lyra viol |
Romina Lischka, bass viol & lyra viol If anyone ever had an unconventional musical career, it is the Austrian Romina Lischka. Initially she studied guitar but, not caring to play solo, she longed to play music with others. Because her guitar teacher played the cello-like viola da gamba, she too chose this instrument. In the meantime, she made a slight detour, spending a year learning traditional singing styles in Northern India, where she later returned to perfect her skills with a noted guru. |
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Here's a Musica Pacifica video with the same instrumentation as is on this Flora CD