PURCELL: Twelve Sonatas in Three Parts - Retrospect Trio

Purcell's sonatas display the composer's innate ability at blending influences from French, Italian and English music; exotic dissonances can be heard alongside the unique use of counterpoint to create these exceptional works.

This second Purcell release by Retrospect Trio has been hotly anticipated since its debut recording, a finalist at the 2009 Gramophone Awards, was released; BBC Music Magazine described the follow up as "a mouthwatering matter of urgency." The four Baroque instrumentalist superstars – Sophie Gent (violin), Matthew Truscott (violin), Jonathan Manson (bass viol) and Matthew Halls (harpsichord & organ) – are reunited in Purcell: Twelve Sonatas in Three Parts.

Recorded at St George's, Chesterton, the recording beautifully captures the timeless beauty of Purcell's most highly regarded instrumental works. Continuing the composer's trio sonata texture found in Ten Sonatas in Four Parts, Purcell's later set is much more forward-looking to the later Baroque rather than taking inspiration from the old style contrapuntal models found in the earlier set.

Sonata I in G minor, Z. 790 - I. [...]
01:19

Sonata I in G minor, Z. 790 - II. Vivace
01:01

Sonata I in G minor, Z. 790 - III. Adagio
00:58

Sonata I in G minor, Z. 790 - IV. Presto
01:19

Sonata I in G minor, Z. 790 - V. Largo
01:51

Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791 - I. [...]
01:25

Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791 - II. Largo
00:35

Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791 - III. Presto
00:41

Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791 - IV. Adagio
00:58

Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791 - V. Vivace
00:53

Sonata II in Bb Major, Z.791 - VI. Allegro
01:20

Sonata III in D minor, Z.792 - I. [...]
00:58

Sonata III in D minor, Z.792 - II. Adagio
00:41

Sonata III in D minor, Z.792 - III. Canzona
01:05

Sonata III in D minor, Z.792 - IV. Adagio
00:30

Sonata III in D minor, Z.792 - V. Poco Largo
00:50

Sonata III in D minor, Z.792 - VI. Allegro
01:44

Sonata IV in F Major, Z.793 - I. [...]
01:25

Sonata IV in F Major, Z.793 - II. Canzona
01:12

Sonata IV in F Major, Z.793 - III. Poco Largo
00:51

Sonata IV in F Major, Z.793 - IV. Allegro
01:54

Sonata V in A minor, Z.794 - I. [...]
01:06

Sonata V in A minor, Z.794 - II. Adagio
01:38

Sonata V in A minor, Z.794 - III. Largo
01:30

Sonata V in A minor, Z.794 - IV. Grave
00:52

Sonata V in A minor, Z.794 - V. Canzona
00:43

Sonata V in A minor, Z.794 - VI. Adagio
00:20

Sonata VI in C Major, Z.795 - I. [...]
02:35

Sonata VI in C Major, Z.795 - II. Canzona
01:45

Sonata VI in C Major, Z.795 - III. Largo
01:56

Sonata VI in C Major, Z.795 - IV. Allegro
00:38

Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796 - I. [...]
01:37

Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796 - II. Canzona
01:39

Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796 - III. Largo
01:25

Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796 - IV. Grave
01:04

Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796 - V. Vivace
00:55

Sonata VII in E minor, Z.796 - VI. Adagio
00:41

Sonata VIII in G Major, Z.797 - I. [...]
01:14

Sonata VIII in G Major, Z.797 - II. Poco largo
00:50

Sonata VIII in G Major, Z.797 - III. Allegro
01:30

Sonata VIII in G Major, Z.797 - IV. Grave
00:46

Sonata VIII in G Major, Z.797 - V. Vivace
00:58

Sonata IX in C minor, Z.798 - I. [...]
01:45

Sonata IX in C minor, Z.798 - II. Largo
01:25

Sonata IX in C minor, Z.798 - III. Canzona
01:25

Sonata IX in C minor, Z.798 - IV. Adagio
01:14

Sonata IX in C minor, Z.798 - V. Allegro
01:58

Sonata X in A Major, Z.799 - I. [...]
01:00

Sonata X in A Major, Z.799 - II. Largo
01:37

Sonata X in A Major, Z.799 - III. Grave
00:43

Sonata X in A Major, Z.799 - IV. Presto
01:13

Sonata XI in F minor, Z.800 - I. [...]
01:40

Sonata XI in F minor, Z.800 - II. Canzona
01:04

Sonata XI in F minor, Z.800 - III. Adagio
01:26

Sonata XI in F minor, Z.800 - IV. Largo
01:34

Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801 - I. [...]
00:56

Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801 - II. Canzona
01:04

Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801 - III. Poco largo
00:58

Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801 - IV. Grave
00:36

Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801 - V. Presto
00:52

Sonata XII in D Major, Z.801 - VI. Allegro
01:14