Credits:

Kit Armstrong

Description:

New American Pianist Revives the Spirit of Early British Composers on DG Debut AlbumAmerican pianist and composer Kit Armstrong's debut album for Deutsche Grammophon features William Byrd and John Bull. The album revives the spirit of early English composers. It is a rare collection of works originally written for the harpsichord-like virginal. Kit Armstrong was introduced to the music of Byrd and Bull as a child and has returned to their music many times since. The works chosen for the album were conceived as far beyond the entertainment and ceremonial music of special people, and range from meditative dirges and frenzied marches to superb variations on common melodies and Bull's ingenious canons. 2 CD set. Both William Byrd (c.1540-1623) and John Bull (1562/3-1628) were Royal Chapel musicians during the Golden Age of Elizabeth I and her successor James I, and contributed to the establishment of a repertoire of keyboard music so great that it has not been equaled even 400 years after their death. They were instrumental in the establishment of a repertoire of keyboard music so great that it has not been equaled in 400 years. Nevertheless, they were two very different personalities, each developing his own distinctive musical style. For Armstrong, these differences are of great importance. Universal Music/IMS

Tracklisting:

1.Prelude
2.Pavan Sir William Petre
3.Galliard (Parthenia 1-3, MB 27/1 & 3)
4.The Flute and the Drum (from The Battle, Novell 4, MB 28/94)
5.The Woods so Wild, 14 Variations (Fitzwilliam 67; MB 28/85)
6.The maiden's song - 8 Variations (Fitzwilliam 126, Nevell 28, MB 28/82)
7.John come kiss me now - 16 Variations (Fitzwilliam 10, MB 28/81)
8.Fantasia (Fitzwilliam 108)
9.Fantastic Pavan (Fitzwilliam 34, MB 19/86a)
10.Fantastic Galliard (Fitzwilliam 34, MB 19/86a)
11.Work(s)~Canons 51 - 48 - 39 - 7 - 15 - 114 (ONB)
12.Prelude (MB 14/56, BL f.65)
13.Carol "Laet ons met herten reijne" (MB 14/56, BL f. 65)
14.Les Buffons - 15 Variations (MB 19/101, BL f. 22)
15.Walsingham - 30 Variations (Fitzwilliam 1, MB 19/85)
16.The Pavan The Earl of Salisbury (Parthenia 6-8, MB 27/15)
17.The Galliard (Parthenia 6-8, MB 27/15)
18.The Second Galliard Mris Marye Brownlo (Parthenia 6-8, MB 27/15)
19.The Bells (Fitzwilliam 69, MB 27/38)