John Blow was only fourteen years old when his compositions were first published. Born in 1649, he went on to be appointed as organist of Westminster Abbey and as Court virginalist at the age of twenty. After he resigned his pupil Henry Purcell took over from him, but he was reinstated following Purcell’s untimely death. He mainly composed church music (Anthems and various Services), but also tried his hand at secular music as well as music for the stage with his short opera Venus and Adonis, which was performed in London around 1684 without much success. This recording of Philip Pickett at the head of the New London Consort and the Westminster Abbey choir in 1994 was praised by critics at the time, who wrote of his ability to depict “The hidden violence of John Blow’s music”. They often commented on his vivacious style of conducting as well as the “Little cupids” (the Boys’ choir), who deserved special mention for the quality of their singing and their dedication. A specialist in early and choral music, Philip Pickett founded the New London Consort which has become one of the world’s leading early music ensembles. However, he has been out of work since he was arrested for sexually abusing young girls and was sentenced to eleven years in prison in 2015. © François Hudry/Qobuz