The viol consort Fretwork, founded in 1986 and still flourishing, focuses on an English Jacobean composer, John Jenkins (1592-1678), in Complete Four-Part Consort Music (Signum). Whereas his near contemporary Henry Purcell – like Ludford and many others – stayed close to Westminster and the seat of power, Jenkins preferred country houses. He spent much time with noble royalist families in Norfolk, for whom he probably wrote these consort works for amateur performance. Contemplative, spirited, mellifluous and free from overt drama, they offer apolitical, zen-like balm.
Fiona Maddocks, 18th March 2018