The 3rd song we played is Henry Purcell’s “Golden Sonata” On the right is a video recording of the performance by the Early Music ensemble Voices of Music.
The first movement features constant interplay between the treble and bass voices. It is followed by an Adagio full of plangency, sighings, and chromaticism. The F major Allegro (Canzona) that follows is very fugal. Its theme is that of a trumpet fanfare in character. Sometimes he pairs the upper two voices together, and at times they dialogue in a rather joyous contrapuntal texture. The Grave again is in minor, very slow, and very somber. The final Allegro brings us back to the dance. Its in triple time and filled with running sixteenth note passages and rhythmic interplay. [by Rita Laurance]
We played with a rearranged score for recorder, violin and cello in G major that changed from F major in origin.