Henry Purcell's Life and Work
Baroque Composer Famous for Opera Dido and Aeneas
Biography of Henry Purcell, considered greatest English composer before Elgar, known for Sonata no. 9 in F, The Golden Sonata.
Baroque English composer Henry Purcell is acknowledged the greatest English composer until the rise of Sir Edward Elgar at the end of the 19th century. He is best-known for his opera Dido and Aeneas, "The Golden Sonata," and his 1692 Ode for St Cecilia's Day, "Hail, Bright Cecilia."
Purcell lived during the English Restoration period, from the return of the monarchy in 1660 and Oliver Cromwell's Puritan rule. Before the advent of Purcell, while England was strong on literature, it didn't enjoy the kind of musical tradition like some European countries.
His music is known for bright spirit, a sunny disposition, and sometimes tempered with passages of sadness.
Early Life of Purcell
English composer Henry Purcell was born in London in 1659 and died in Westminster, in 1695. His parentage is uncertain from lack of documentary evidence. At ten, he became a chorister of the Chapel Royal and received instructions from composer and organist John Blow.
He was appointed assistant keeper of the instruments, and subsequently named composer-in-ordinary for the violins when he was 18. Eventually he became Blow's successor as organist of Westminster Abbey, and organist of the Chapel Royal at 23. A year later, he was named keeper of the king's instruments and organ maker.
Later Life
Purcell's court appointments were renewed after Charles II's death. He composed numerous choral works especially for ceremonial occasions, being the court composer and as organist at Westminster Abbey. He wrote the anthem "My Heart is Inditing" for the coronation of King James II, Queen Mary's Funeral Music, and music for occasions such as royal birthdays, marriage, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Purcell's Legacy
His music includes opera and incidental music for the stage, odes, anthems, and instrumental music. Purcell published his finest instrumental work "Fantasias for Strings." His anthems were known to be exquisite, and his songs, numerous. His sonatas are said to be Corelli-influenced. His funeral music for Queen Mary was a moving tribute to the queen, the same music played at his funeral when he died at the young age of 36.
Henry Purcell's Major Works
- Fantasias for Strings, 1680
- Ode for St Cecilia's Day, 1683
- Rejoice in the Lord Alway, 1685
- Song, "Evening Hymn", 1688
- Dido and Aeneas, opera, 1689
- Incidental music to King Arthur, play by John Dryden, 1691
- The Fairy Queen, semi-opera, 1692
- "Bright Cecilia", 1692
- "Music for a While" and "Nymphs and Shepherds", songs, 1692
- "Come Ye Sons of Art", including aria, "Sound the Trumpet", ode, 1694
- Queen Mary's Funeral Music, 1695
- The Indian Queen, semi-opera, 1695
- "The Golden Sonata" (Sonata No.9 in F major), for two violins, viola da gamba and keyboard, c.1695
Sources:
Dictionary of Composers and their Music by Eric Gilder, Sphere Reference (1987)
Oxford Dictionary of Music, edited by Michael Kennedy, OUP (1994)
The Encyclopedia of Music by Max Wade-Matthews & Wendy Thompson, Hermes House (2002)
The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, edited by Stanley Sadie, Macmillan (1994)
