Henry Purcell, (born c. 1659, London, England—died November 21, 1695, London), English composer of the middle Baroque period, most remembered for his more than 100 songs;
a tragic opera, Dido and Aeneas
; and his incidental music to a version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream called The Fairy Queen.
Where did Henry Purcell learn about music?
Henry Purcell: The English Orpheus. Purcell was born in London in the year 1659, to a musician who played in the entourage of Charles II. As his father was a part of the Chapel Royal which was where the musicians were trained for the royal service, Purcell acquired his
primary training there as a chorister
.
Who did Purcell influence?
Purcell also had a strong influence on the composers of the English musical renaissance of the early 20th century, most notably
Benjamin Britten
, who arranged many of Purcell’s vocal works for voice(s) and piano in Britten’s Purcell Realizations, including from Dido and Aeneas, and whose The Young Person’s Guide to the …
When did Henry Purcell start composing music?
He is said to have begun composing
at the age of 9
. He eventually began studies with Dr. John Blow, after the death of Humfrey and after attending Westminster School he was appointed copyist at Westminster Abbey. In 1679, Purcell began composing songs to accompany drama, along with some sacred choral music.
What instruments did Purcell compose for?
Purcell composed many works for
organ, harpsichord, strings, and other
instruments.
Who is hailed as the greatest English composer of all time?
Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)
Without doubt one of England’s finest ever composers, Thomas Tallis is the tops when it comes to choral music. His tune ‘Thou wast, O God’ went on to inspire Vaughan Williams to create his Fantasia masterpiece.
What is Handel’s most famous creation?
His most renowned work is
the oratorio Messiah
, written in 1741 and first performed in Dublin in 1742. In 1784, 25 years after Handel’s death, three commemorative concerts were held in his honor at the Parthenon and Westminster Abbey.
What makes Henry Purcell unique?
Henry Purcell, (born c. 1659, London, England—died November 21, 1695, London), English composer of the middle Baroque period, most remembered for his
more than 100 songs
; a tragic opera, Dido and Aeneas; and his incidental music to a version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream called The Fairy Queen.
What is Baroque period?
The Baroque period refers to
an era that started around 1600 and ended around 1750
, and included composers like Bach, Vivaldi and Handel, who pioneered new styles like the concerto and the sonata. The Baroque period saw an explosion of new musical styles with the introduction of the concerto, the sonata and the opera.
How do you pronounce Purcell?
It’s “
PUR-cell
.” It should rhyme with “rehEARsal”.
Who are the two most important composers of the classic era?
The best-known composers from this period are
Joseph Haydn,Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Schubert
; other notable names include Luigi Boccherini, Muzio Clementi,Antonio Soler, Antonio Salieri, François Joseph Gossec, Johann Stamitz, Carl Friedrich Abel, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and Christoph …
What subject was Henry particularly good at?
He was particularly good at
writing music
. When Henry was only thirteen years old, his teacher, Henry Cooke, died. Mr Cooke’s son-in-law, Pelham Humphrey, who was a very clever musician, took his place and taught Henry a lot about writing different styles of music.
What is meant by incidental music?
Incidental music,
music written to accompany or point up the action or mood of a dramatic performance
on stage, film, radio, television, or recording; to serve as a transition between parts of the action; or to introduce or close the performance.
What is the meaning of Purcell?
English, Welsh, and Irish (of Norman origin): from Old French pourcel ‘piglet’ (Latin porcellus, a diminutive of porcus ‘pig’), hence a metonymic
occupational name for a swineherd
, or a nickname, perhaps affectionate in tone.
What is Baroque music?
Baroque music, a
style of music that prevailed during the period from about 1600 to about 1750
, known for its grandiose, dramatic, and energetic spirit but also for its stylistic diversity. Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K 64, by Domenico Scarlatti, played on the piano.
