The Three & Four Part Fantazias

Purcell's Fantasias for Gamba Consort are the last works written in the great tradition of viol fantasias in England and they form a fitting conclusion to the genre which had been introduced to England about a hundred years earlier by Alfonso Ferrabosco.

This year the musical world remembers the 300th anniversary of Purcells deatht and Globe thought it a fitting contribution to this commemoration to release a recording of these magnificient piecest performed on authentic instruments.

Added to these great and incomparable works is a Suite by Purcell's teacher John Jenkins also written for Gamba Consort.

The Royal Consort was founded in 1985 and consists of four viola da gamba players who all studied with Wieland Kuijken at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. The ensemble specializes in performing consort music from the 16th and 17th century with the accent on the extensive English repertoire. The Royal Consort regularly works together with renowned vocal soloistst David Cordiert, Kai Wessel, Monika Frimmer and Peter Kooy among them. Occasionally the ensemble is involved in productions with a larger strength in collaboration with such ensembles as La Fontegara Amsterdam, the Netherlands Bach Society, Concerto Vocale conducted by René Jacobs, and Anima Eterna conducted by Jos van Immerseel. The four gamba players perform on authentic instruments.