Resounding Shores: Ode to St Cecilia

John Butt director
Academy Baroque Soloists

CLERK Leo Scotiae irritatus
PURCELL Hail, bright Cecilia!

Our 2024 series closes with Purcell’s Hail, bright Cecilia!, written in honour of St Cecilia, patron saint of musicians. In this work, all of the instruments have ‘character’ movements where singers and instrumentalists play equally dramatic roles. Preceding this famous ode is Sir John Clerk of Penicuik’s relatively little-known cantata, Leo Scotiae irritatus, which depicts Scotland’s ambitious (and unsuccessful) venture to set up an empire in Panama.