User Guide

dCS Purcell User Manual Manual for Software Issue 2.2x
dCS Ltd September 2004
Manual filename: Purcell Manual v2.2x.doc Page 4 email: [e-mail]
English version web-site: www.dcsltd.co.uk
HENRY PURCELL (1659-1695)
The dCS Purcell is named after the 17th century English composer, organist,
bass and countertenor, Henry Purcell. He is widely regarded as one of the
greatest composers of the baroque period and some even regard him as the
most gifted English musician and composer of all time. During his short 35
years, he composed in every musical genre of the period.
Born in London, he was a child prodigy and began writing music at the age of
eight. He started his career as a boy chorister at the Chapel Royal.
In 1673 he became an unpaid apprentice to John Hingeston, Keeper of the
Royal Instrument where he acquired considerable experience in tuning the
organ at Westminster Abbey. He was able to provide himself with an income
during his apprenticeship by copying books of organ parts.
In 1677, Purcell was appointed composer-in-ordinary for Charles II's string
ensemble and then two years later, took over from his mentor John Blow as
principal organist for Westminster Abbey. This post entitled him to a salary and
also provided a house.
At the age of 21 he wrote his first Welcome Song for Charles II, and also his
first music for the theatre. Purcell was exceptionally skilled in the way that he
set a libretto to music, particularly in fitting phrases of varying and uneven
length. A good example is Dido's final lament, When I am Laid in Earth. Also
about this time he began to produce a wide range of music for the church. It is
no understatement to say that for sheer beauty and intensity of emotion, his
sacred music has few peers.
In 1682 he succeeded Edward Lowe as organist of the Chapel Royal, a position
which also entailed him being a singer in the choir. The following year he wrote
one of his best known sacred pieces, an Ode for St. Cecelia's Day.
After the death of John Hingeston in 1688, Purcell was appointed organ maker
and Keeper of the Royal Instruments.
His greatest achievement was the opera Dido and Aeneus, which was written
in 1689 for performance "by Young Gentlewomen" at Josia Priest's boarding-
school at Chelsea in London. It is the earliest English opera still to be regularly
performed. His later works for the theatre, Dioclesian, King Arthur, The Fairy
Queen, The Indian Queen and The Tempest, whilst containing excellent
music, sadly do not lend themselves to performance apart from the plays for
which they were written.
Not much is known about his final years although he undoubtedly remained
active as a composer. The last Royal occasion he provided music for was
Queen Mary's funeral in 1694. He died the following year and was buried in
Westminster Abbey.
Although Purcell's genius spanned every musical genre of the period, he is best
remembered for his Opera Dido and Aeneus and his choral music, particularly
his Te Deum, Jubilate and Sound the Trumpet, all of which are still regularly
performed.