Arcangelo marks the countdown to the New Year with celebratoryodes for St Cecilia’s Day – Henry Purcell’s Welcome to all thepleasures of 1683 and John Blow’s Begin the Song of 1684 – andtwo rousing Gloria settings.

Handel’s Gloria, probably writtenbefore its young composer’s departure from Germany to Italyin 1706, was believed to be lost until it was rediscovered in thelibrary of the Royal Academy of Music in 2001. Vivaldi’s Concertoin C for two trumpets and pioneering Concerto in C for bassooncomplete the festivities.