4: By 1692 there was no doubt that Henry Purcell was the brightest star in the musical firmament. Donald Macleod introduces the most glorious of his odes, Hail, Bright Cecilia , written for the patron saint of music's celebrations that year. St Cecilia's 's Day Ode: Hail, Bright Cecilia Susan Hamilton and Siri Thornhill
(sopranos), Robin Blaze and Martin van der Zeijst
(countertenors), Mark Padmore (tenor), Jonathan Arnold , Peter Harvey and Jonathan Brown (basses), Collegium Vocale , director Philippe Herreweghe