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Henry Purcell

Composer match-up

1833 - 18971813 - 18831653 - 17131756 - 17911685 - 17501873 - 19431685 17591770 - 1827

W. A. MozartJ. S. BachArcangelo CorelliSergei RachmaninoffRichard WagnerJohannes BrahmsLudwig van BeethovenG. F. Handel

1770 - 1827Sergei RachmaninoffArcangelo CorelliHenry Purcell

1659 - 1695Brief BackgroundDied aged 36Baroque composer, taught by John BlowLived through the reign of four monarchs, Charles II, James II, Mary II and William IIIHe wrote music for different purposes:Court music for royal entertainmentChamber musicSacred musicSongsOrgan musicOne opera Dido and Aeneas Purcells WorldEnglish monarchy is restored in 1660 after the civil wars (1642-51) seeing Charles II ascend to the throneGreat 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 ProtestantThe revolution permanently ended any chance of a re-establishment of Catholicism in EnglandPurcells StylePurcells music is almost always dependent on contrapuntal texturesHe wrote for a wide variety of purposes, using a wide variety of instruments, from instrumental solos to anthems for the coronation of James IIHis works display French and German influences, such as decorated melodies, regular changes in harmony, regular rhythms and independent lines working simultaneouslyHis legacy is considered as a uniquely English form of barque music Purcells music is further characterised by ambitious harmoniesAmbitious Harmony

One of Purcells best loved works.

Ambitious harmony on the word turtle (4.28), similar to harmonies Schubert would have usedMy Belovd Spake

Hear my prayer O LordOrgan MusicHe became the organist of Westminster Abbey aged just 20Organ voluntary on the 100th Psalm:

Chamber Music

Fantasia for Viols:Chaconne in G minor:

OperaDidos 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 predecessorSet Work:

Blows Venus and Adonis:

Name the composerThree are by Purcell, two are by other famous composers

Purcell: Suite from king Arthur1691

Purcell: Abdelazer Suite1695

Purcell: O solitude1987

Schubert: Serenade1828

Handel: Water music1717LegacyPurcell is generally regarded as the most important English composerUntil the arrival of Elgar in 1857 there was no other great English composerHe has influenced a wide range of musicians, including Britten, The Who and Jeff BuckleyBrittenBrittens Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra is based on a theme by Purcell:

The WhoPete 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

Purcell or not Purcell? That is the QuestionBecame organist at Westminster Abbey aged 20Wrote more than one hundred songsBorn in 1653Died before his 40th birthdayDied by chocolate poisoningIs buried adjacent to the organ at Westminster abbeyWas a prolific opera composerFather was called Henry Purcellnull262600.66null1321917.1null875153.5null307431.16null251314.67null183102.3