Purcell - Ode for St. Cecilia's Day - "Wondrous Machine!", "The airy violin"
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) Hail, bright Cecilia!
Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, Z. 328
1. "Wondrous machine!"
Peter Harvey, bass
Gabriel Consort & Players
dir. Paul McCreesh
2. "The airy violin"
Julian Podger, tenor
Gabriel Consort & Players
dir. Paul McCreesh
1. Wondrous Machine!
To thee the Warbling Lute,
Though us'd to Conquest, must be forc'd to yield:
With thee unable to dispute.
2. The Airy Violin
And lofty Viol quit the Field;
In vain they tune their speaking Strings
To court the cruel Fair, or praise Victorious Kings.
Whilst all thy consecrated Lays
Are to more noble Uses bent;
And every grateful Note to Heav'n repays
The Melody it lent.
Paintings:
1. S. Conca, St. Cecilia
2. C. Dolci, St. Cecilia at the Organ, 1671
3. C. Dolci, St. Cecilia
4. J. M. Strudwick, St. Cecilia, 1895
5. J. Stella, St. Cecilia playing the Organ
6. Raffael, The Ecstasy of St. Cecilia, 1514
7. G. F. Romanelli, St. Cecilia
8. A. Franchi, Personification of Music (St. Cecilia), c. 1650