HEIR OF ALL THE AGES
Flutes and Frets
“Heir of All the Ages” spans four centuries of elegiac English music, brought to life by Beth Stone on flutes and Daniel Murphy on lutes and guitars. Ranging from the timeless works of Henry Purcell to music by influential figures such as Sir Malcolm Arnold, the disc reflects EM Records’s dedication to highlighting British composers throughout history.
The disc opens with the meditative “Christe qui lux es et dies III” by Robert White, featuring the deeply contemplative sacrum chant presented on solo flute. White’s Renaissance counterpoint finds a natural successor in the pavanes and galliards of Anthony Holborne, whose works lend a sense of continuity between sacred and secular forms. This sentiment continues in Holborne’s dances and later in Henry Purcell’s otherworldly evocation of a magical landscape in “The Fairy Queen”. Arranged by Daniel Murphy, Purcell’s work assumes a revitalised and nuanced character through the lute, while maintaining its playful yet lyrical idiom.
A highlight is the World Première recording of Henry Eccles’s Sonata Settima from his Second Livre de Sonates à Violon Seul et la Basse. Eccles, celebrated for his expressive and melancholic style, stands out as a remarkable example of musical diversity, blending elements from Italian, French and English traditions.
The second half of the disc showcases the flute’s lyrical versatility. Works such as Malcolm Arnold’s Fantasy for Flute introduce a captivating contrast between melodious and virtuosic writing; while the disc concludes with the World Première recording of Seth Bye’s “Bridge 12”, fusing urban and folk idioms and offering a contemporary reflection on place and identity.
EMR CD028 | INTERNATIONAL
RECORD REVIEW