Maurice Greene was, in many ways, the most naturally gifted of Handel's English contemporaries - "the one English composer of the period" according to JA Fuller-Maitland, "who undoubtedly deserves the honour of being mentioned in the same breath with the great masters of the continent". On William Croft's death in 1727 he became principal organist and composer of the Chapel Royal and, eight years later, gained the coveted post of Master of the King's Musick as well, having in the meantime taken a doctorate at Cambridge where 'in compliment to his performance', he had been elected (honorary) Professor of Music in the university. Greene is remembered chiefly for his church music, and in particular, the full anthems 'Lord let me know mine end' and 'O clap your hands' both widely regarded as classics of the genre. Most of Greene's eighty-odd anthems however, are verse anthems which, since they rely heavily on solo voices and make comparitively little use of the chorus, are now seldom performed.
This anthem is written from Psalm 39. The psalmist recognises the brevity and uncertainty of life, the sinfulness of man and the need to live a life pleasing to God, as this is his only hope. This beautiful and sincere anthem contains expressive and effective contrapuntal vocal parts over an organ accompaniment, a rarity in it's day. The duet for treble voices in the middle of the piece finds the two voices interlacing and changing position as they consider the futility of man's desires.
9 дек 2008
