Henry Purcell: “Music for a While” and “The Purcell Album” / Alfred Deller

Alfred Deller’s recordings of Purcell’s vocal music are probably the best known of his accomplishments, along with those of Dowland. The most representative is the complete recording of “King Arthur”, but there are also two omnibus recordings, “Music for a While” and “The Purcell Album”. “Music for a While” is a charming melody song that begins with an impressive walking bass, and it is the twelfth song on the record. Other songs on the record include “The Plaint” and “If Music Be The Food of Love” from “The Fairy Queen”, “I Attempt From Love’s Sickness” from “The Queen of India” and “Fairest Isle” from “King Arthur”, “Since From My Dear Astrea’s Sight” from “Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian” etc.. which contains Purcell’s melodies as beautiful as pearls. The other “Purcell Album” is a collection of arias from operas such as “King Arthur” ,”The Fairy Queen”, “The Indian Queen”, “Dido and Aeneas”, including another take of “Music for a While”. #baroque #purcell #片山俊幸