This was the last and largest of the odes that Henry Purcell composed in honor of the patron saint of music. It is a lofty, colorful work for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, containing many picturesque arias with instrumental solo obbligatos and stirring choruses with full orchestra. Cecilia is praised with dulcet arias, as in the alto solo “The Airy Violin” or the duet “In Vain the Am’rous Flute”; and with bold military proclamations, as in the remarkable “The Fife and all the Harmony Of War”, an alto aria accompanied by trumpets and drums, using no strings except basses. Though Alfred Deller and the other soloists offer telling contributions, this recording is really more important as a document of an early pioneering effort than as a preferred performance. It was one of the few times that the distinguished composer Sir Michael Tippett conducted music other than his own, and chronicles in sound the 1956 Kalmar Chamber Orchestra shortly before it became the English Chamber Orchestra. Deller pointed the way (no countertenor since has beat him on clean and clear diction), but others have taken the style and technique a step further. My two reference choices for this piece include a grand modern instrument/period style performance from Charles Mackerras (with the English Chamber Orchestra, 13 years later), and a lively period instrument reading from John Eliot Gardiner. These might be hard to find, but are worth the search. The Deller will be of interest primarily to his fans. The sound is quite good, sweetened mono.
