Immerse yourself in the rich, baroque world of William Boyce with his profound and moving work, "David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan." This album, released on Decca (UMO) in 2000, is a masterful display of Boyce's compositional prowess, blending intricate orchestration with deeply expressive vocal performances. Spanning a duration of 1 hour and 19 minutes, the album is a journey through the biblical narrative of David's lamentation, rendered in a series of powerful choral and solo pieces.
The album features two distinct versions of Boyce's "David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan"—the Dublin Version (1744) and the London Version (1736)—alongside the "Ode on St Cecilia's Day 'The Charms of Harmony Display'." Each track is a testament to Boyce's ability to convey deep emotion and narrative depth through music. The overtures, choruses, arias, and recitatives are performed with precision and passion, showcasing the intricate interplay between vocal and instrumental elements.
Boyce's work is a staple of the classical genre, and this album is a must-listen for anyone interested in the rich tapestry of Baroque music. The performances are brought to life with a sense of drama and reverence, making it a compelling listen from start to finish. Whether you're a seasoned classical enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album offers a captivating exploration of one of Boyce's most significant compositions.
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 1. Overture: Largo - Presto allegro - LargoWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): Overture: AffettuosoWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 2. Chorus: Sing Sacred ProphetWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 3. Recitative: How Saul was by the proud Philistines slainWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 4. Aria: Israel is fall'n, is undoneWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 5. Recitative: David resum'd, his Soul afflictedWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 6. Aria: Swift indulge thy cruel AidWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 7. Recitative: Seeing the King thus tortur'dWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 8. Aria: Take this Bracelet, deck thine ArmWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 9. Recitative: Struck as with Thunder, David rends his ClothesWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 10. Chorus: For Saul, for Jonathan, they fast, they weepWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 11. Recitative: David again, 'Whence art thou?'William Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 12. Aria: How cou'd Conscience hush her StingsWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 13. Recitative: Then David the Amalekite survey'dWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 14. Duet: Sad Israel! thy Beauty's PrideWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 15. Recitative: Never, O never! let this GuiltWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 16. Aria: On Thee, Mount GilboaWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 17. Chorus: Daughters of Israel, weepWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 18. Recitative: How are the Mighty fallen! O how slainWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation over Saul and Jonathan (Dublin Version, 1744): 19. Chorus: How are the Mighty fallen!William Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
Ode on St Cecilia's Day 'The Charms of Harmony Display': 1. Overture: Allegro - (Moderato)William Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
Ode on St Cecilia's Day 'The Charms of Harmony Display': Overture: MinuetWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
Ode on St Cecilia's Day 'The Charms of Harmony Display': 2. Chorus: The Charms of Harmony displayWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
Ode on St Cecilia's Day 'The Charms of Harmony Display': 3. Aria: If the hopeless Lover's HeartWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
Ode on St Cecilia's Day 'The Charms of Harmony Display': 4. Trio: Where Peace prevails and Plenty flowsWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
Ode on St Cecilia's Day 'The Charms of Harmony Display': 5. Aria: In War's fierce AlarmsWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
Ode on St Cecilia's Day 'The Charms of Harmony Display': 6. Chorus: Cecilia sings and strikes the LyreWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation (London Version, 1736): 4. Aria: Israel is fall'n, is undoneWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation (London Version, 1736): 15. Recitative: Never, O never! Let this GuiltWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox
David's Lamentation (London Version, 1736): 16. Aria: On thee, Mount GilboaWilliam Boyce, Patrick Burrowes, William Purefoy, Andrew Watts, Richard Edgar-Wilson, Michael George, Choir of New College, Oxford, Hanover Band, Caroline Brown, Pavlo Beznosiuk, Graham Lea-Cox