The parts to John Woolrich’s Fantazia

John Woolrich composed Fantazia (1994) for four viols to mark Henry Purcell’s tercentenary in 1995, and first performed by Fretwork. The 5-minute piece has three short movements; the music of each is derived from the first few notes of Purcell’s D minor Fantasia. The titles are taken from a catalogue of Purcell’s works. Begin the song gradually reveals Woolrich’s source material; the second movement, the lilting Beneath a dark and melancholy, occludes it again. A Good-Night is more agitated and restive; the piece concludes with a long silence.