The Great Musicians: PurcellCummings, William Hayman
History
The Great Musicians: Purcell
Cummings, William Hayman
Purcell, Henry, 1659-1695
The music consists of an introductory symphony, choruses, and soli,
with accompaniments for strings, and has a very novel termination
to the words "Iô Cecilia." The words are poor, and were written by
Christopher Fishbourne,[30] who seems to have been both a poet and
a musician, but of no great pretension in either art. Purcell's
enthusiasm and industry are well exemplified by the amount of music
which he wrote for the first public observance of St. Cecilia's Day in
this country. In addition to the ode already mentioned as published, he
composed two other odes, one in English and one in Latin; the former
is remarkable for being scored without any part for the tenor violin,
and without parts for counter-tenor voices, although the latter voice
was in great favour in Purcell's day, and his music generally abounds
with solos for that voice. The Latin ode is interesting as being
scored for three men's voices with accompaniments for two violins and
bass. Both these odes remain at present in manuscript. The Fitzwilliam
Library at Cambridge possesses a large volume of manuscript music
in the handwriting of Dr. Blow, and internal evidence shows that it
must have been completed in 1683; it contains the following anthems
by Purcell:--1. "By the Waters of Babylon;" 2. "O God Thou hast cast
us out;" 3. "Remember not, Lord, our Offences;" 4. "I will Sing unto
the Lord;" 5. "Blessed be the Lord my Strength;" 6. "O Lord, our
Governour;" 7. "Let God Arise;" 8. "Blessed is He;" 9. "Hear me, O
Lord;" 10. "Bow down Thine Ear;" 11. "Jerusalem is Built;" 12. "My
Beloved Spake;" 13. "O God, Thou art my God;" 14. "Lord, who can tell?"
15. "Benedicite" in B ♭.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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