Handel
Chandos Anthems
Arcangelo/Jonathan Cohen
Alpha Classics ALPHA1153 75:08 mins
Today’s historians could have a field day besmirching this music as being the product of a morally corrupt society.
After composing the Water Music in 1717, Handel turned his attention to composing occasional works for James Brydges, whose exploitation of his post as paymaster of the Queen’s army brought him phenomenal wealth. This allowed him to collect old masters and buy an earldom, becoming the 1st Duke of Chandos. Cannons was the name of the estate on which he built a Palladian mansion, for which he had his own band.
Yet nothing could be emotionally purer than the music of what are known as the Chandos Anthems. Brevity is of the essence, the longest movement being 4’38 mins and the shortest 1’16, yet every one of them is packed with intricate polyphonic detail, and infused with burning passion.
And each member of Jonathan Cohen’s vocal lineup is a Baroque specialist. Sopranos Hilary Cronin and Deborah Cachet are balanced by countertenor Daniel Collins, ‘high’ tenor Samuel Boden, plus tenors Hugo Hymas and Matthew Long; basses Raoul Steffani and William Gaunt provide the grounding.
Each anthem begins with an instrumental Sonata, which the 11-piece orchestra delivers with fine despatch. The psalm texts were taken from the Book of Common Prayer, and there is much musical beauty to be savoured here. The confessional text of the sentiments is often belied by the music’s bright cheerfulness, but sometimes, as in ‘Wash me throughly[sic] from my wickedness’, they gravely echo each other. Handel’s characteristic optimism comes out most strongly in the fugues.