Her Heavenly Harmony: Profane Music from the Royal Court

Her Heavenly Harmony: Profane Music from the Royal Court

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Total playing time [62:19]

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The Queen's Six

Following on from their acclaimed debut album (Music of the Realm – RES10146), a capella vocal sextet The Queen’s Six return with a captivating exploration of secular jewels by the same six composers associated with the Tudor and Jacobean royal courts featured on that earlier recording - Thomas Tomkins, William Byrd, Thomas Morley, Thomas Weelkes, William Byrd & Thomas Tallis.

Themes as diverse as royalty, balletts, birds, the natural world, dedications and love & death serve to celebrate the immense range of this golden age of English music.

Album Booklet (PDF)

Tracklist

Thomas Morley (c. 1557-1602)
1. Hard by a crystal fountain
2. Arise, awake

Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656)
3. The fauns and satyrs stripping

Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)
4. O ye tender babes

Thomas Weelkes (c. 1575-1623)
5. Like two proud armies

Thomas Tomkins
6. See, see the shepherds’ Queen
7. O let me live for true love – O let me die for true love

Thomas Morley
8. No, no, Nigella

William Byrd (c. 1540-1623)
9. Compel the hawk
10. The eagle’s force

Thomas Tallis
11. Like as the doleful dove

Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
12. The silver swan
13. Dainty fine bird

Thomas Morley
14. Now is the gentle season

Thomas Weelkes
15. Thule, the period of cosmography – The Andalusian merchant

Orlando Gibbons
16. Fair is the rose

William Byrd
17. Ye sacred muses

Thomas Tomkins
18. Cloris when as I woo

Thomas Weelkes
19. Death hath deprived me
20. Mars in a fury

William Byrd
21. And think ye nymphs

Orlando Gibbons
22. Ah, dear heart

Thomas Tallis
23. When shall my sorrowful sighing slake

Thomas Tomkins
24. Music divine

“

'This is The Queen’s Six’s ‘difficult second album’ – their debut album (“Music of the Realm” RES10146) establishing them as the new boys on the block – and they have passed the test with flying colours.'

- Early Music Review

'The barely contained excitement behind the singing on this disc does not, however, undermine its refinement. [...] The performance of each piece leaves behind it the strong image of a perfect vignette – a musical miniature entirely freestanding and meticulously crafted.'
Gramophone

'[...] the album is packed with little moments of delight [...] The six voices, always impressive together, also prove adept at keeping each part clearly enunciated. A collection of mini-masterpieces.'
Classical Ear (five stars)

'This is The Queen’s Six’s ‘difficult second album’ – their debut album (“Music of the Realm” RES10146) establishing them as the new boys on the block – and they have passed the test with flying colours.'
Early Music Review

'This is the second album from this choir devoted to music by familiar names of the Tudor and Jacobean royal courts. Morley, Tomkins, Tallis, Byrd, Gibbons & Weelkes are all represented by secular songs of love, death and other themes. A lovely collection.'
Lark Reviews

'There is a remarkable consistency in the singing of The Queen’s Six, both as to tone, volume, and style. The blend is perfect, of course, as is their intonation.'
Andrew Benson-Wilson (andrewbensonwilson.org)

Credits
© 2016 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2016 Resonus Limited
Catalogue No. RES10164
Producer, engineer & editor: Adam Binks
EAN: 5060262790687
Cover image: Detail from Queen Elizabeth I (The Ditchley Portrait) by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (1561-1636)