Born in 1912 in Margate, Kent (UK), Alfred Deller recorded for harmonia mundi from 1967 until his death in July 1979. These discs, many of them bestsellers (Music for a While, O Solitude), caught the public’s imagination and influenced several generations of musicians. 'We had never heard a male alto before, and now this! A magnificent sound, handled with refinement, effortless, light, ideal for our old instruments; exceptionally individual and used with great expressiveness. To accompany him was sheer pleasure’ (Nikolaus Harnoncourt).
HENRY PURCELL [1659-1695] The Fairy Queen · Act II A fairy Come all ye songsters of the sky (1'57) · Prelude (0'41) · Three Elves May the God of Wit inspire / While Echo (2'05) · Act III. Dialogue Corydon, Mopsa (3'50) · Act IV. Symphony (1'05) · Act V. A Chinese Man Thus, thus the gloomy world (4'48) · A Chinese Woman Thus happy and free (0'51) · A Chinese Man Yes, Xansi, in your looks I find (2'09) · Monkey's Dance (0'55) King Arthur · Act I, scene 2 I call ye all (2'26) · Act V, scene 2 Fairest Isle (2'45) The Indian Queen Act I. Boy Wake, Quivera, wake · Act III. Trumpet Overture (2'42) · Aerial Spirits Ah, how happy are we / We the spirits of the air (4'00) · Aerial Spirits I attempt from love's sickness (2'02) Theatre Music Olinda · The Old Bachelor Thus to a ripe, consenting maid (2'41) · Dioclesian O how happy's he (1'18)
ANONYMOUS · Incipit lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae Dernière Leçon du Samedi Saint (Ténèbres) (1'57) THOMAS TALLIS [c.1505-1585] · Te Lucis ante terminum Cantiones sacrae (2'08) FRANÇOIS COUPERIN [1668-1733] · Deuxième Leçon de Ténèbres pour le Mercredy (13'17) DIETRICH BUXTEHUDE [1637-1707] · Cantate Jubilate Domino (7'58) HENRY PURCELL [1659-1695] · Saul and the Witch of Endor In guilty night (9'20) ORLANDO GIBBONS [1583-1625] · Great King of Gods (6'00) GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA [1525-1594] · Ave verum (8'56) ALESSANDRO GRANDI · Cantabo Domine (3'24)
THOMAS MORLEY [1557-1602] Shakespeare Songs Twelfth night, V.1 The Wind and the Rain · As you like it, V.3 It was a lover and his lass (2'55) · Twelfth night, II.3 O Mistress mine (1'22) · Othello, IV, 3 Willow song (4'54) · Henry V, mention in IV, 4 Calleno custure me (3'09) ANONYMOUS · Miserere my Maker (5'44) THOMAS CAMPION [c.1567-1619] · I care not for these ladies (1'47) JOHN BARTLET · Of all the birds (1'10) PHILIP ROSSETER [1567-1623] · What then is love (2'17) JOHN BLOW [1649-1708] · The Self-Banished (2'27) JEREMIAH CLARKE [1674-1707] · The glory of the Arcadian groves (2'07) JOHN DOWLAND [1562/1563-1626] · Fine knacks for ladies (2'30) · Flow my tears (5'33) HENRY PURCELL [1659-1695] · If music be the food of love (2'21) · From rosy bow'rs (7'12) · O Solitude (5'54) GIULIO CACCINI [1550-1618] · Pien d'amoroso affetto (3'31) CLAUDIO SARACINI · Pallidetto qual viola (1'04) GIULIO CACCINI [1550-1618] · Amarilli, mia belle (3'13) ALESSANDRO SCARLATTI · Infirmata vulnerata (13'28)
ANONYMOUS · The Three Ravens (2'51) · Black is the colour of my true love's hair (1'54) THOMAS MORLEY [1557-1602] · Sweet nymph, come to thy lover (1'41) · I go before my darling (1'23) ANONYMOUS · The Oak and the Ash (3'08) · Barbara Allen (2'30) · Lord Rendall (4'04) · The water is wide (2'32) · The Tailor and the Mouse (1'28) · Down by the sally gardens (2'18) · I will give my love an apple (1'45) THOMAS MORLEY [1557-1602] · Miraculous Love's wounding (2'55) ROBERT JONES [-1615] · Sweet Kate (1'35) ANONYMOUS · Bushes and Briars (2'34) · The Foggy, Foggy Dew (2'08) · She moved through the fair (3'39) · Evening Prayer (1'02)
