The Spirit Of Gambo: John Jenkins - Late Chamber Music

Stockfisch Records

Disse kammermusikkverkene har faktisk en lyrisk, balansert og betryggende karakter. De vil uten tvil ha hatt en lindrende effekt på både spillere og lyttere. Et merkelig aspekt ved mange av disse danselignende stykkene er det høye nivået av tekniske ferdigheter som kreves av spillerne.

The – mainly instrumental – music of John Jenkins (1592 – 1678), one of the most prolific composers of 17th century England, shows an interesting development from late-Renaissance to Baroque. Early works are the polyphonic fantasias for four-, five-, and six-part viol consort. In those days Jenkins presumably was active in London, where he was part of the music circles of the court of Charles I. Hardly anything is known about this first half of Jenkins’s life, but there is mention of him as a musician for the magnificent pageant “The Triumph of Peace” which took place in London in 1634.

The chamber music pieces on this CD must have originated during the time that Jenkins was staying with the Dereham and L’Estrange families. Whereas the music by Lawes often has a bold and angular character, the compositions by Jenkins from this period are clearly intended as compensation for the unsettled and perilous circumstances prevalent during the troublesome civil war years.