William Croft’s career as the leading native-born composer of English church music was established in the period between the death of Purcell and the arrival of Handel in London. His education took place among musicians from Purcell’s circle, and his style was modified by the influence of Handel’s ‘Utrecht’ Te Deum and Jubilate of 1713.

All the music in this volume was composed for various royal church services that took place between 1709 and 1720, in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace an...