Gentleman extraordinary : anthems, services, and instrumental music

"The English composer Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623), organist at Winchester College and Chichester Cathedral, deserves maximum celebration in his anniversary year ... The excellent Irish vocal group Resurgam have added to the discography with 'Gentleman Extraordinary', with Silas Wollston (organ; listen for the hand-operated bellows), directed by Mark Duley. Anthems and three versions of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis are interspersed with pavans and fantasias, played with sombre vigour by the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble. Of the anthems, try Alleluia, I Heard a Voice or Hosanna to the Son of David to discover Weelkes's distinctive brilliance, expertly displayed here".

Læs anmeldelse

"Most recordings of music by Weelkes come from vocal ensembles of mixed voices (female and male) or from cathedral choirs of boys and men. The Choir of Chichester Cathedral falls more or less between those two categories. It consists of boys and men, but is considerably smaller than most British cathedral choirs. This seems well in line with the situation in Weelkes's time in Chichester ... It lends this recording a kind of intimacy, which seems also due to the cathedral's "warm acoustics" ... The singers of this choir deal with their task admirably ... The accompaniment of some of the items by viols was a good idea, as this was a practice that was known - although apparently not very common - in Weelkes's time. The Rose Consort of Viols gives a good account of itself here, and especially in the consort pieces. Thomas Howell delivers fine performances of the two voluntaries. In short, this is a splendid contribution to the Weelkes commemoration".

Læs anmeldelse

"Most of the choral items here are marred by an overly bright tone from the sopranos and altos ... But there is more to this disc than the anthems, and the exquisite playing of Fretwork, especially in the three pavans, is of such quality that it alone is well worth the price of the disc".

"Editor's choice: A splendid programme of music by Thomas Weelkes, the 400th anniversary of whose death was marked last year ... Resurgam demonstrate the power and confidence of their ensemble, with bold lower voices and an attractive treble sheen from the sopranos ... A big shout-out to The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble ... ECSE's sound, coupled with the perky organ-playing of Silas Wollston, is so rich, warm and expressive that they continually drew my attention. A very welcome addition to the catalogue all round".