The baroque spirit in all its musical shapes. The celebration of the Peace of Utrecht (1713) in London.
The Peace of Utrecht was signed on 11 April 1713. This treaty ended two centuries of war. In London the Peace was grandly celebrated with a festive range of art and culture. Georg Friedrich Händel composed a celebratory ‘Te Deum’ and William Croft composed an ‘Ode for the Peace of Utrecht (with noise of cannon)’.
In this episode we will focus on Croft’s Ode. Furthermore a Sonata by Johannes Schenk, who mixed the English gamba school influences with those of Marin Marais, and a Concerto by Johann Christoph Pepusch, who left for England at a young age.
William Croft (1678-1727)
1. Ode for the Peace of Utrecht (with noise of cannon)
– Ouverture
– Verse (with noise of cannons)
– Aria – A milder happier strain we now begin
– Chorus – Tuning to Peace
– Duet – Peace is the song
– Chorus – The soul of Musick
– Aria – Nor will we even the Martial Trumpet spare
– Chorus – Where, Mighty Anna, will thy Glories end
Dutch Bach Society conducted by Jos van Veldhoven. William Towers, alto. Peter Harvey, bass
(CD G.F. Handel and W. Croft – Peace of Utrecht, Channel Classics CCS SA 29610, 2010)
Johannes Schenck (ca. 1656-1712)
2. From: Le nymphe di Rheno: Sonata VII in b minor
– Adagio
– Allegro
– Adagio con affetto
– Allegro – Aria Amoroso
Wieland Kuijken and Francois Joubert-Caillet, viola da gamba
(CD Johannes Schenck – Le Nymphe di Rheno, Ricercar RIC 336, 2012)
Johann Christoph Pepusch (1667-1752)
3. Concerto a 5 for oboe, strings and basso continuo in g minor
– Adagio
– Allegro
– Adagio
– Allegro
The Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen conducted by Robert Rawson
(CD J.C. Pepusch – Concertos and Ouvertures for London, Ramée RAM 1109, 2012)
