Donald Macleod explores Henry Purcell’s London

Henry Purcell was the most important English composer of the era, described as the "Orpheus Britannicus" for his ability to combine Baroque counterpoint with dramatic settings of English words. He composed music for the church, the royal court, the theatre and for England’s newly emerging concert scene, with an intelligence and creativity that marked him out as one of the most original composers in all of Europe. More than anything, though, he composed music for London – the city where he lived all of his short life. This week, Donald Macleod explores the city during Purcell’s lifetime and London’s effect on a man who lays claim to being England’s greatest composer. During Purcell’s childhood, it was a city reeling from civil war, the disastrous spread of disease, and the destruction wreaked by the Great Fire. We’ll explore London’s churches, and music Purcell wrote for them, especially Westminster Abbey, where Purcell was organist, the state of London’s theatre scene in Purcell’s day, and the changing demands for music from the various monarchs of the composer’s lifetime.

Music featured:

Fairest Isle from King Arthur
Hail Bright Cecilia (Symphony & Closing Chorus “Hail! Bright Cecilia”)
Welcome Song from Swifter, Isis, Swifter Flow, Z 336
What hope for us remains now he is gone?, Z 472
Suite from Abdelazer
An Evening Hymn ‘Now that the sun hath veiled his light', Z 193
Voluntary in D minor, Z 719
O God, thou art my God, Z 35
Beati Omnes qui timent Dominum, Z 131
My Beloved Spake
Te Deum & Jubilate
Cold Song ‘What Power art Thou’ (from King Arthur)
They that go down to the sea in ships
Sighs for our late sovereign Charles the Second, Z 380 ‘If pray’rs and tears’
My heart is inditing
Sefauchi's Farewell, Z 656
Love's Goddess Sure Was Blind, Z 331 (VI May Her Blessed Example Chase)
Come ye sons of art (excerpt)
Timon of Athens, . 632 (Curtain Tune on a Ground)
Dido and Aeneas, Act II (excerpt)
Theodosius, or the Force of Love (Overture; Prepare the Rites Begin)
King Arthur (excerpt)
The Fairy Queen (excerpt)
Indian Queen, Act 4 ‘They tell us that you mighty powers above’
When I am laid in earth from Dido and Aeneas
Trumpet Sonata in D Major, Z 850
Burial Service, Z 58c
‘From Rosy Bow’rs’ from Don Quixote
Oedipus: incidental music, Z 583 (No 2, Music for a While (Arr B. Britten)

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales & West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Henry Purcell (1659-1695) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024x77

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z