Alfred Deller sings "From Rosy Bow'rs" - Henry Purcell

Video footage of Deller performing Purcell's setting of a text by Thomas d'Urfey.
Link to My Alfred Deller playlist:
• Alfred Deller (1912-1979)
From rosy bow'rs where sleeps the god of Love,
Hither, ye little waiting Cupids, fly:
Teach me in soft, melodious songs to move,
With tender passion, my heart's darling joy.
Ah! let the soul of music tune my voice,
To win dear Strephon, who my soul enjoys.
Or if more influencing
Is to be brisk and airy,
With a step and a bound,
And a frisk from the ground,
I will trip like any fairy.
As once on Ida dancing,
Were three celestial bodies,
With an air and a face,
And a shape, and a grace,
Let me charm like Beauty's goddess.
Ah! 'tis all in vain,
Death and despair must end the fatal pain,
Cold despair, disguis'd, like snow and rain,
Falls on my breast!
Bleak winds in tempests blow,
My veins all shiver and my fingers glow,
My pulse beats a dead march for lost repose,
And to a solid lump of ice, my poor fond heart is froze.
Or say, ye Pow'rs, my peace to crown,
Shall I thaw myself or drown?
Amongst the foaming billows,
Increasing all with tears I shed,
On beds of ooze and crystal pillows,
Lay down my lovesick head.
Say, say, ye Pow'rs, my peace to crown,
Shall I thaw myself or drown?
No, I'll straight run mad,
That soon my heart will warm;
When once the sense is fled,
Love has no pow'r to charm.
Wild thro' the woods I'll fly,
Robes, locks shall thus be tore;
A thousand deaths I'll die
Ere thus in vain adore.

[@levon3194]

Alfred Deller is greatest contrtenor

[@liliankelly1362]

I first heard Alfred Deller when I was first studying for my Music A level in 1979,, singing in Come Ye sons of Art by Purcell. It opened my eyes to the wonderful repertoire of Counter Tenor music and a life long love of Purcell's songs. From Rosy Bowers is up there as a favourite, of mine, along with Music for a While and Strike the viol. Fabulous to see Deller performing. Alas, he died around the time that I discovered him. A unique voice and interpretation of Purcell.As I am a cellist, playing cello continuo to these wonderful songs is my greatest joy.

[@soniaarnalmorey5570]

thankyou. ist a gift for me. i know Deller in 1969, i have a disk vinilo, 33. i lovehim. the sing Amarilis , ist beautiful.

[@garryhumphreys3054]

For information: the harpsichordist is Robert Elliott, whose wife Honor Sheppard was a regular soprano in the Deller Consort (she died in May 2021)

[@NiallMS1]

Recorded in All Saints Church, Boughton Aluph, Kent. He and his late wife Peggy are buried in the churchyard!

[@zarieliza]

I loved his voice the moment I heard him sing the plaint ❤

[@jclmat]

Une magnifique interprétation, très pensée, longuement intériorisée avant de l'extérioriser pour notre enchantement, par un des plus extraordinaires Musiciens que j'ai eu la chance de rencontrer à plusieurs reprises, qui m'a enthousiasmé à chaque rencontre.
Grand merci, Sir Alfred !
Et grand merci à "kadoguy" de nous le rendre si présent à nouveau.

[@cooperdogable]

Thank You again for the live footage of Alfred Deller. What a gift. If one wishes to explore the voice of the countertenor, this is the place to start.

[@Bigbearbeau]

It's a mistake to class Alfred as just a great countertenor his musicianship is greater than his exceptional voice...

[@peteysgirl1]

He’s a conductor and a specialist in early music- he rocks!

[@DimitryTsch]

Это нечто божественное .

[@12alenico12]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@michaelkennedy100]

wonderful rendition here, I rather liked theandante sections of this piece.

[@piraselisabetta5167]

🌀