This Week in Classical Music: September 7, 2020.Purcell.Henry Purcell was born on September 10th of 1659 during the last year of Interregnum: Oliver Cromwell, who ruled England as Lord Protector, died a year earlier, in 1658, and Charles II, the son of the executed King Charles I would return to London a year later and be coronated in 1561; Henry’s father, Henry Purcell Sr., a musician, would sing at the Westminster Abbey during the ceremony.Henry Jr’s uncle Thomas was a musician at the Chapel Royal and through him Henry was admitted there as a chorister.Purcell studied with noted musicians, first John Blow and Christopher Gibbons and later with Matthew Locke, who was "Private Composer-in-Ordinary to the King Charles II."Purcell started composing early, his first known composition dates around 1670. By 1677, when he replaced Locke as the court composer, he had written several “Anthems” and other sacred music (at that time, he was writing few instrumental pieces).Many of Purcell’s compositions were created for the Westminster Abbey, although the Abbey paid him mostly for his services as an organ tuner.In 1679 Purcell succeeded John Blow as organist at the Abbey and held that position for the rest of his short life (he died at the age of 36).In 1682 Purcell was admitted as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal where he performed as one of the organists.In 1685 Charles II died and his younger brother James II became king. For James’s coronation Purcell wrote the anthem “My heart is inditing of a Good Matter.”Here it is, performed by the Collegium Vocale Ghent under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe. Under James, who was a Catholic, the court music was reorganized, and Purcell’s activities were reduced.In 1688 James was deposed during the Glorious Revolution.William III and Mary II ascended to the throne, but they weren’t interested in music as much as the preceding Stuarts.Purcell refocused his attention on music theater, though he continued to compose odes for Queen Mary.He wrote music for Dryden’s tragedy Tyrannick Love, a three-act opera Dido and Aeneas, for the then popular play The Fool's Preferment and several others.In 1692 he composed music to The Fairy-Queen, after Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream.He started working on another Dryden’s play, The Indian Queen, but never finished it: he died of an unknown illness on November 21st of 1695.His younger brother Daniel completed the last act of the opera.Purcell was buried at the Westminster Abbey, next to the organ he played for many years.Purcell’s own Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary was played during the ceremony.
Several important composers were also born this week, among them Girolamo Frescobaldi (on September 13th of 1583, in Ferrara).And isn’t it surprising that Arnold Schoenberg (September 13th of 1874) was only 33 years younger than Antonin Dvořák (September 13th of 1841)?Musically, they belong to different eras.
Purcell 2020
This Week in Classical Music: September 7, 2020. Purcell. Henry Purcell was born on September 10th of 1659 during the last year of Interregnum: Oliver Cromwell, who ruled England
as Lord Protector, died a year earlier, in 1658, and Charles II, the son of the executed King Charles I would return to London a year later and be coronated in 1561; Henry’s father, Henry Purcell Sr., a musician, would sing at the Westminster Abbey during the ceremony. Henry Jr’s uncle Thomas was a musician at the Chapel Royal and through him Henry was admitted there as a chorister. Purcell studied with noted musicians, first John Blow and Christopher Gibbons and later with Matthew Locke, who was "Private Composer-in-Ordinary to the King Charles II." Purcell started composing early, his first known composition dates around 1670. By 1677, when he replaced Locke as the court composer, he had written several “Anthems” and other sacred music (at that time, he was writing few instrumental pieces). Many of Purcell’s compositions were created for the Westminster Abbey, although the Abbey paid him mostly for his services as an organ tuner. In 1679 Purcell succeeded John Blow as organist at the Abbey and held that position for the rest of his short life (he died at the age of 36). In 1682 Purcell was admitted as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal where he performed as one of the organists. In 1685 Charles II died and his younger brother James II became king. For James’s coronation Purcell wrote the anthem “My heart is inditing of a Good Matter.” Here it is, performed by the Collegium Vocale Ghent under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe. Under James, who was a Catholic, the court music was reorganized, and Purcell’s activities were reduced. In 1688 James was deposed during the Glorious Revolution. William III and Mary II ascended to the throne, but they weren’t interested in music as much as the preceding Stuarts. Purcell refocused his attention on music theater, though he continued to compose odes for Queen Mary. He wrote music for Dryden’s tragedy Tyrannick Love, a three-act opera Dido and Aeneas, for the then popular play The Fool's Preferment and several others. In 1692 he composed music to The Fairy-Queen, after Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream. He started working on another Dryden’s play, The Indian Queen, but never finished it: he died of an unknown illness on November 21st of 1695. His younger brother Daniel completed the last act of the opera. Purcell was buried at the Westminster Abbey, next to the organ he played for many years. Purcell’s own Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary was played during the ceremony.
Several important composers were also born this week, among them Girolamo Frescobaldi (on September 13th of 1583, in Ferrara). And isn’t it surprising that Arnold Schoenberg (September 13th of 1874) was only 33 years younger than Antonin Dvořák (September 13th of 1841)? Musically, they belong to different eras.