The Life and Works of Henry

PurcellBy Jacob Snyder

Purcell’s Life and Career

Early Life Not much we know about Purcell except for

important life events Purcell was born in 1659

o London Father Henry Sr. Two brothers, one famous composer Daniel

Purcell Uncle Thomas

o Both father and uncle important singers at Chapel Royal Joined the Chapel Royal choir as a boy

o Destined for musico Joined after father’s death, and after moving in with

uncle

Teachers When starting boy choir work, Purcell first started

learning from Captain Henry Cook, and then Pelham Humfrey

Puberty strikes! Voice “crack” forces Purcell to leave choir in 1673 Assistant to John Hingston, keyboard/instrument

keeper He tuned organs at Westminster! Studied with Matthew Locke as a violin composer Took over role as Abbey Organist in 1679 Went back to Chapel Royal as organist in 1682 King James made him court Harpischordist in

1685

“It was the originality of his genius, the uniqueness of the musical invention he brought to bear on the traditions and conventions of English music in which he was trained, that made Purcell one of England’s greatest composers.” (Buelow, 329)

The Masterful Works

Purcell’s Works Purcell’s style of composition

o Conservativeo Takes from the masters before himo Took techniques and style from previous, made them his

owno Now he is a household name.

Started composing at an early age, possibly 9 or 11 years old

Instrumental Music Purcell had many catalogues of instrumental

musico Only a snapshot of all his work

Wrote many fantasias, sonatas, several pavanso “The fantasias all originate around 1680 and are usually

viewed as intensive studies by Purcell to become familiar with the strict contrapuntal style of pre-Restoration composers” (Buelow 330)

Purcell used these forms as a study tool! Throughout his instrumental works, Purcell takes

the old to make the newo Ricercars in his fantasias

Sacred Music Purcell wrote a prolific number of pieces for the

church Most of these written under employment of

Charles II King desired a focus on light-hearted anthems

o Purcell provided with 70 of them! Charles II wanted a more French like sound in his

church Focus on text comprehension, especially in

church works For his court compositions,

o “Purcell focused on the composition of fifteen verse anthems with string ensembles” (Buelow 338).

King Charles II a big supporter and fan of Purcell

“Equally important to Purcell’s vocal style was the remarkable relationship between his musical ideas and the sound and structure of the English Language. This symbiotic union of the phonology of the language and the sung word is difficult to explain, but it is a basic element in what can be called the Purcellian sound.” (Buelow 330)

Stage Works Writing for the stage happened post 1689

o Last 6 years of his life Wrote about 50 staged works

o About 8 a year! Dido and Aeneas

o Powerful worko Emphasis on the affect of the pieceo Purcell used many techniques to convey tension and

drama throughout the work

Odes and Welcome Songs

24 of these, written between 1680-1694 Charles II great supporter of these works

o Supplied Purcell with a group of soloists and a strong chorus

Very sophisticated workso Arguably some of his most mature masterworks

They were a form of a large anthemo Again, we see use of the old to make new

Come, come ye sons of art, awayo One of his last odeso Described as his most potent and powerful ode

Death Died in 1695 in Westminster

o Height of his Career Only 35 or 36 years old Buried adjacent to the organ in Westminster

Abbey Music he wrote for Queen Mary’s funeral was

played for his Was mourned, terrible loss for England