Diapason d'Or, Diapason This album showcases Henry Purcell’s complete string fantasias, along with his Pavan, Chacony, and In nomines, performed with clarity and finesse by London Baroque. Composed mostly in 1680 when Purcell was only 21, these works mark the final chapter in the centuries-old tradition of English consort music. Drawing on models by Gibbons and Locke, Purcell masterfully combines contrapuntal precision with expressive depth, creating music that is both introspective and bold. Highlights include the haunting Fantazia upon One Note, the elegant Pavan for three violins, and the energetic Chacony—perhaps the only piece Charles II could have tapped his foot to. The In nomines, built on a centuries-old liturgical fragment, reflect both tradition and wit. London Baroque’s historically informed performance brings these remarkable works to life using instruments of the violin family, as Purcell himself may have intended.