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Henry Purcell
· Was an important person in the Restoration in England.
· Considered the greatest English composer of the Baroque Period.
· Was influenced by Italian and French styles of composition. Trained in the English choral tradition.
· Born in Westminster, his date of birth is approximate. No record of his baptism survives. It is thought that his father was Henry Purcell.
· On some records his name is spelt Pursell.
From Alamy.com
· Came from a musical family, both his father (as thought) and uncle were Gentleman of the Chapel Royal (the office of an adult male singer of the Chapel Royal, the household choir of the monarch of England). Father was master of the Children of the Abbey and the music copyist for Westminster Abbey. His father died in 1664 and is buried in the East Cloister. His mother Elizabeth was buried in Westminster Abbey on the 26th August 1699.
· Possibly his uncle Thomas adopted him after his father died and he continued Purcell’s musical education. Learned to play the lute, violin and organ.
· When his voice broke in 1793, he was retained as a kind of unpaid apprentice in the post of “keeper, maker, mender, repairer and tuner of regalls, organs, virginals, flutes and recorders and all other kind of wind instruments whatsoever” to the King.
By Σπάρτακος (changes by Rabanus Flavus) - File:Westminster-Abbey.JPG, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76031882
· Brother Daniel was also an organist and composer.
· It is recorded that Purcell attended Westminster School as a ‘Bishop’s boy’ from 1678 – 1680.
· Had a very close connection with the leading composers of the day; he was one of the twelve Children of the Chapel, he was a student of Matthew Locke, in 1767 he was appointed copyist at Westminster Abbey, became the court composer for violins in 1677, became the organist at Westminster Abbey in 1679 succeeding John Blow, from 1682 he was one of the three organists at the Chapel Royal. (Blow returned to this post after Purcell’s death).
· Married Frances Peters about 1681, and some of their children were baptised at Westminster Abbey. It seems that only two of their children lived to adulthood, Frances who proved her mother’s will and Edward who was an organist.
· Composed music for the coronation of James II, also the coronation of Mary and William III, funeral music for Queen Mary. The work for the funeral of Queen Mary was played at his funeral a few months later.
· Supplemented his official work with writing for the theatre. Wrote several operas, many of which were staged at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London.
· Wrote Dido and Aeneas when he was 22 years old. A very important work, it was the first time in England a production had no spoken dialogue as there was continuous dramatic music.
· According to the Rough Guide to Classical Music 4th edition 2005 “Purcell’s achievement was his success in synthesising certain aspects of the French style – the two-part overture, rhythmically defined dances, and declamatory vocalising – with the more lyrical and expressive style of the Italians. However, what makes his musical language unique is the way these elements are suffused by the sense of national identity, typified by heavy chromaticism, elaborate counterpoint, extended melody and above all, an emotional immediacy”.
· Composed anthems, hymns, odes, welcome songs, dramatic works including operas, incidental music and songs, fantasias for strings, sonatas, toccatas and many harpsichord pieces.
· Purcell’s compositions are listed with a ‘Z’ number, this being the first letter of Franklin Zimmerman’s name, the American musicologist and conductor who catalogued all his Purcell’s works.
· It is thought that Purcell could have died of tuberculosis and is buried in the north aisle of the choir, this is where the organ stood at the time. Wrote his will just before he died.
· Lisa Cox, an antiquarian dealer bought a number of manuscripts at an auction in September 1993. One of these had a leather cover and seemed to date from 1680 or 1690. In this manuscript two distinct styles were found, and it has been verified that the first section was written by Purcell and the second part was written by Giovanni Draghi, an Italian musician who settled in England in the 1660s. This manuscript includes drafts of 21 keyboard pieces by Purcell, of which approximately a third were unknown. There are only 6 verified Purcell manuscripts known and it is thought that this one was possibly inherited by Draghi himself. Some of the pieces in the manuscript are not found anywhere else. It is thought that set of pieces was intended as a teaching book for beginning keyboard players. The David Moroney’s book he states that the first 13 pieces are progressive in terms of difficulty being guided “through the principles of basic hand positions and correct fingering”. In addition to this the player is introduced to ornaments, commencing with simple ones. The later pieces become more difficult, and the player is introduced to more complex keys. Moroney states players can “acquire independence of hands, master two or three-part music as well as chords, and lead them on to more complex and rapid melodies, firstly in keys without key signature, then with one-accidental signatures and finally two-accidental signatures (in both cases, flats come before sharps. Along the way, they also acquire a good range of ornaments in both hands”. It seems that if a player learns all the pieces contained in this manuscript, they will achieve independence of hands where both hands are equal.
· Moroney makes a good point when he reminds one that the keyboards of Purcell’s day were smaller than those of today, so there was less room for the fingers, the keys were shorter, and the octave span was smaller.
Henry Purcell’s will
Died 21st November 1695 Probate 7th December 1695
I, Henry Purcell of the City of Westminster gent being dangerously ill as to the constitution of my body but in good and perfect mind and memory thanks be to God ? by those presents publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. And I do ? hereby give and bequeath unto my loving wife Frances Purcell all my estate both real and personal of what nature ?? to her and her Assignees for ever And I do hereby constitute and appoint my said Loving Wife sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament revoking all former will or wills written ? for my hand and sealed this twenty fifth day of November ? one thousand six hundred ninety five And in the seventh year of the Reign of King William the third. H Purcell signed sealed and published and declared by the said Henry Purcell in the presence of Wm Coles and John Chaplin.
Double Spinet or Virginal. This musical instrument was made by Hans Ruckers the elder of Antwerp. It is numbered 9 out of sixty-six existing instruments by the Ruckers family. The left hand keyboard was a removable part, whilst the right was a fixture.
From Alamy.com
Will of Frances Purcell
Died 14th February 1706 Probate 4th July 1706
That Frances Purcell late of Richmond in the County of Surrey widow deceased but whilst she lived and being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and as she sat(t) in a chair in the parlour of her dwelling house in Richmond aforesaid utter and declare her Last Will and Testament ? in the words following (to witt) She orders and appoints Thomas Corey to be her Executor until Frances Purcell should attain the age of eighteen years. And upon her attaining such age her said daughter to be her Executrix And according to her husband’s desire she had given her dear son good Education and she also did give him all the Book(e)s of music in general the organ the double spinet(t) the single spinet(t) a silver tankard a silver watch two pair of gold buttons a ? ring a Mourning Ring of Dr Busby’s a Laxum? and Cork? Mr Edward Purcell’s picture handsome furniture for a room and to be maintained until provided for and all other her Estate of houses monies and what she otherwise had she gave to her said daughter Frances Purcell which said words or words to the same effect were uttered and spoken by the deceased on Thursday the Sixteenth day of February 1705 being then ill of the Sickness of which she soon after dyed(sic) and as for her Last Will and Testament ? in the presence of us who have subfixed our names as Witness there to whom she desired to bear(e) witness or take notice of what she said. Ann Eeles, Ann Fendalton, Amy Howlett.
Spinet built 1765 by Johann Heinrich Silbermann. Eisenach, Germany.
By Tkarcher - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30409655
Here is a list of Purcell’s examination pieces that have been in the ABRSM piano syllabus over a number of years.
Purcell Henry A Song Tune, Z. T695. No. 3 Purcell, Miscallaneous Keyboard Pieces 1 2011-2012 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Air in D minor 1 1968 A Baroque Purcell Henry Air in D minor, Z. T676 1 1990 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Air in D minor, Z.T676 1 1985 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Air in D minor, Z.T676 1 1990 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Air in D minor, Z.T676 1 1996 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Air in D minor, Z.T676 1 2005-2006 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Air in D minor, Z.T676 1 1985 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Air in G, Z. 641 4 1990 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Air, Z. 641 4 1982 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Hornpipe 3 2007-2008 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Hornpipe in E minor 2 1961 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Hornpipe Z 668/3 2 1974 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Hornpipe, Z. T 683 2 1999-2000 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Hornpipe, Z.T 685 2 1971 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Hornpipe, Z.T 685 2 1987 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Hornpipe: from Abdelazer, Z. T683 2 2013-2014 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Minuet 2 1969 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Minuet in A minor, Z.649. No. 1 from A Keyboard Anthology, Third series, Book 1 1 2009-2010 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Minuet in A minor, Z.649. No. 1 from A Keyboard Anthology, Third series, Book 1 1 1978 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Prelude in C. Z.666 from Suite No. 5, first movement 5 1999-2000 A Baroque Purcell Henry Prelude, Z. 660/1. No. 9 from English Keyboard Music 1663-1702 from A Keyboard Anthololgy 1 2013-2014 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Prelude: first movement from Suite No. 5 in C, Z. 666 5 2017-2018 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Prelude: Suite No. 1 in G, Z. 660, first movement 1 2003-2004 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Rigadoon, Z. 653 2 2005-2006 A Baroque Purcell Henry Riggadoon 1 1969 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Saraband in D Z.D219/2 1 1975 B Baroque Purcell Henry Suite No. 1 in G, Z.660: Prelude 1 1988 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Suite No. 1 in G, Z.660: Prelude 1 1998 B Baroque
Purcell Henry Suite No. 5 in C, Z.666 Prelude 5 1988 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Suite No. 5 in C, Z.666: Prelude 5 1998 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Air in D minor 1 1952 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Courante, from Suite in D 4 1952 A Baroque
Purcell Henry A New Ground, Z.T682 4 1979 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Minuet in A minor, Z. 649 1 2023-2024 A Baroque
Purcell Henry Air in D minor, Z. T676 2 2023-2024 A Baroque
Purcell Henry attrib. Saraband, Z.D219/2 1 1991 B 20C
Dictionary of National Biography Volumes 1 – 22
Rough Guide to Classical Music 4th edition 2005
www. Wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_B_Zimmerman
Twenty Keyboard Pieces and one by Orlando Gibbons Henry Purcell edited by David Moroney Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music published 1999
New York Times December 13, 1993, Section C, Page 11