Fantaisie : Suites

Description

At a time when even highly respected English musicians were suffering from hunger because their employers withheld their wages, John Hingeston was fortunate. The son of a pastor from York, he caught people's attention in his youth with his organ playing and was soon employed by the Earl of Cumberland. He was sent to London to continue his studies and became a loyal servant. When Oliver Cromwell came to power, he appointed him master of music. After the restoration of the monarchy, he played the viola and was the keeper of the wind instruments at court. The young Henry Purcell was his apprentice and successor. He was a staunch advocate for his less privileged colleagues, enjoyed a distinguished reputation as a teacher, and left behind a considerable body of melodious chamber music for string instruments (and organ). Some feature very original instrumentation, reflecting half a century of British musical history – a "missing link" appears between Orlando Gibbons on one side, and John Blow and Henry Purcell on the other.