The Great Musicians: PurcellCummings, William Hayman
History
The Great Musicians: Purcell
Cummings, William Hayman
Purcell, Henry, 1659-1695
In this same year he composed an ode in honour of King James,
commencing, "Why are all the Muses mute?" and it is very likely that
he also composed the music for the tragedy of _Circe_ at or about this
period. This play, the work of Charles Davenant, when first produced,
was accompanied by music from the pen of John Banister,[32] some of
which was published in 1679.
A few years since Dr. Rimbault unfortunately published a portion
of Purcell's music to _Circe_ with Banister's name attached as the
composer,[33] but he afterwards discovered the error he had fallen
into.[34] _Circe_ is one of Purcell's best dramatic works, and contains
music which no other composer of his time could have written; it still
remains in manuscript. Only music to the first act is now to be found.
Perhaps Purcell never completed it.
In 1686 Purcell was again afflicted by the death of a child who had
been christened Thomas in remembrance of the deceased uncle. The
infant was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. In this year
Purcell composed the music for Dryden's tragedy, _Tyrannic Love_, in
which there are several effective and elegant pieces, notably "Hark,
my Daridear," a duet, and "Ah, how sweet it is to love," a song. In
addition to this, he wrote another "Ode, or Welcome Song for the King,"
commencing, "Ye tuneful Muses."
In 1687 Purcell had another son born who was named Henry, but he
survived only two months, and was buried with his kindred in the
cloisters of Westminster Abbey. Purcell composed another "Ode in honour
of King James," commencing "Sound the trumpet, beat the drum," in which
occurs a duet to the words, "Let Cæsar and Urania live;" this became so
great a favourite that succeeding composers were wont to insert it in
their own royal birthday odes. This practice continued till the close
of the succeeding century.
About this time Purcell composed a "March" and a "Quickstep," which
soon became popular and familiar to the soldiers; a short time
afterward some one, probably Lord Wharton, the Irish Viceroy, with much
foresight and wisdom, selected the tune of the "Quickstep" as a vehicle
for making known the absurd verses of the song called "Lillibullero."
Thanks to the music, the song spread like wildfire, with the result
described by Bishop Burnet, who says, "A foolish ballad was made at
that time, treating the Papists, and chiefly the Irish, in a very
ridiculous manner, which had a burden said to be Irish words, 'Lero,
lero, lillibullero,' that made an impression on the army that cannot
be imagined by those that saw it not. The whole army, and at last the
people, both in city and country, were singing it perpetually, and
perhaps never had so slight a thing so great an effect." The Viceroy
"boasted that the song had sung a deluded Prince out of the three
kingdoms." Other testimony speaks of the song "having contributed not a
little towards the great Revolution of 1688."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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