The Sound of English Baroque

"The Sound of English Baroque" is a thoughtfully curated journey through England's 17th and early 18th-century music scene, highlighting the rich textures, elegant ornamentation, and reserved drama of the Baroque era as it played out on English soil. The playlist balances intricate instrumental consort works by composers like William Lawes, John Jenkins, and Matthew Locke with soaring vocal performances from Henry Purcell, John Blow, and George Jeffreys. Pieces like “Lovely Selina” and “When I Am Laid in Earth” bring out the lyrical, often melancholic character of English vocal music, while consort pieces such as “The Broken Consort I” and “Fantasia No. 13” show off the viol’s place as a central voice in English chamber traditions.

Also featured are lighter dance forms and instrumental showpieces, from the bright tones of Jeremiah Clarke’s “Prince of Denmark’s March” to the layered textures of Pepusch and Avison’s concertos. There are occasional European influences — such as Corelli’s sonata arranged by William Babell — but the overall tone remains distinctly English. From courtly masques and church anthems to intimate duets and solo instrumental grounds, this playlist offers a broad sampling of the English Baroque’s restrained elegance and quiet inventiveness.