Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

Donald Macleod explores Henry Purcell’s London


Henry Purcell was the most important English composer of the era,
described as the "Orpheus Britannicus" for his ability to combine
Baroque counterpoint with dramatic settings of English words. He
composed music for the church, the royal court, the theatre and
for England’s newly emerging concert scene, with an intelligence
and creativity that marked him out as one of the most original
composers in all of Europe. More than anything, though, he
composed music for London – the city where he lived all of his
short life. This week, Donald Macleod explores the city during
Purcell’s lifetime and London’s effect on a man who lays claim to
being England’s greatest composer. During Purcell’s childhood, it
was a city reeling from civil war, the disastrous spread of
disease, and the destruction wreaked by the Great Fire. We’ll
explore London’s churches, and music Purcell wrote for them,
especially Westminster Abbey, where Purcell was organist, the
state of London’s theatre scene in Purcell’s day, and the
changing demands for music from the various monarchs of the
composer’s lifetime.


Music featured:


Fairest Isle from King Arthur Hail Bright Cecilia (Symphony &
Closing Chorus “Hail! Bright Cecilia”) Welcome Song from Swifter,
Isis, Swifter Flow, Z 336 What hope for us remains now he is
gone?, Z 472 Suite from Abdelazer An Evening Hymn ‘Now that the
sun hath veiled his light', Z 193 Voluntary in D minor, Z 719 O
God, thou art my God, Z 35 Beati Omnes qui timent Dominum, Z 131
My Beloved Spake Te Deum & Jubilate Cold Song ‘What Power art
Thou’ (from King Arthur) They that go down to the sea in ships
Sighs for our late sovereign Charles the Second, Z 380 ‘If
pray’rs and tears’ My heart is inditing Sefauchi's Farewell, Z
656 Love's Goddess Sure Was Blind, Z 331 (VI May Her Blessed
Example Chase) Come ye sons of art (excerpt) Timon of Athens, .
632 (Curtain Tune on a Ground) Dido and Aeneas, Act II (excerpt)
Theodosius, or the Force of Love (Overture; Prepare the Rites
Begin) King Arthur (excerpt) The Fairy Queen (excerpt) Indian
Queen, Act 4 ‘They tell us that you mighty powers above’ When I
am laid in earth from Dido and Aeneas Trumpet Sonata in D Major,
Z 850 Burial Service, Z 58c ‘From Rosy Bow’rs’ from Don Quixote
Oedipus: incidental music, Z 583 (No 2, Music for a While (Arr B.
Britten)


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC
Audio Wales & West


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024x77


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z