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Composer match-up
1685 - 1750
1756 - 1791
1833 - 1897
1653 - 1713
1685 1759
Richard Wagner
Arcangelo Corelli
W. A. Mozart
J. S. Bach
1770 - 1827
1813 - 1883
1873 - 1943
Johannes Brahms
Sergei Rachmaninoff
G. F. Handel
Arcangelo Corelli
Sergei Rachmaninoff
1770 - 1827
Henry Purcell
1659 - 1695
Brief Background
Died aged 36
Baroque composer, taught by John Blow
Lived through the reign of four monarchs, Charles II, James II, Mary II and
William III
He wrote music for different purposes:
Court music for royal entertainment
Chamber music
Sacred music
Songs
Organ music
One opera Dido and Aeneas
Purcells World
English monarchy is restored in 1660 after the civil wars (1642-51)
seeing Charles II ascend to the throne
Great Plague (1665-66), Great Fire of London (1666)
Laws of Gravity defined by Newton (1672)
Glorious Revolution of 1688 sees James II (brother of Charles II)
overthrown as king of England
James II replaced by William III, whose wife was Mary II, and who
were both Protestant
The revolution permanently ended any chance of a re-establishment
of Catholicism in England
Purcells Style
Purcells music is almost always dependent on contrapuntal textures
He wrote for a wide variety of purposes, using a wide variety of
instruments, from instrumental solos to anthems for the coronation
of James II
His works display French and German influences, such as decorated
melodies, regular changes in harmony, regular rhythms and
independent lines working simultaneously
His legacy is considered as a uniquely English form of barque music
Purcells music is further characterised by ambitious harmonies
Ambitious Harmony
My Belovd Spake
Organ Music
He became the organist of Westminster Abbey aged just 20
Organ voluntary on the 100th Psalm:
Chamber Music
Fantasia for Viols:
Chaconne in G minor:
Opera
Didos Lament from Dido and Aeneas:
Regarded as one of the first English operas, Venus and Adonis of
John Blow (Purcells teacher) is its only substantial all-sung dramatic
predecessor
Set Work:
Blows Venus and Adonis:
Schubert: Serenade
1828
Purcell: O solitude
1987
Legacy
Purcell is generally regarded as the most important English composer
Until the arrival of Elgar in 1857 there was no other great English
composer
He has influenced a wide range of musicians, including Britten, The
Who and Jeff Buckley
Britten
Brittens Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra is based on a theme
by Purcell:
The Who
Pete Townshend of The Who identified Purcells harmonies as
an influence in the bands music.
Such influences are particularly noticeable in the intro to
Pinball Wizard, written in 1969:
Townshend also highlighted influences in the songs Wont get
fooled again and I can see for miles
Buckley