The Great Musicians: PurcellCummings, William Hayman
History
The Great Musicians: Purcell
Cummings, William Hayman
Purcell, Henry, 1659-1695
One other ode belongs also to this year. It was written by Tate for the
commemoration of the centenary of the foundation of Trinity College,
Dublin, and commences "Great Parent, hail." It is supposed that the ode
was performed at Christ Church, Dublin, on the 9th of January, 1694;
but no information on the subject has as yet been discovered either at
Trinity College or Christ Church. The ode was included in Goodison's
"Purcell publications."
In 1694 Purcell revised the twelfth edition of _John Playford's
Introduction to the Skill of Musick_. The third part of the work, which
treats of _The Art of Descant_,[46] appears to have been almost wholly
re-written by Purcell. The directions for the use of "discords" were
quite novel for the time, and so also must have been the paragraph
where he says, "Formerly they used to compose from the _Bass_, but
modern authors compose to the _Treble_ when they make _Counterpoint_ or
_Basses_ to tunes or songs." Again, in speaking of composition in three
parts, he writes, "The first thing to treat of is _Counterpoint_, and
in this I must differ from Mr. _Simpson_ (whose _Compendium_ I admire
as the most ingenious book I e're met with on this subject); but his
rule in three parts for _Counterpoint_ is too strict and destructive to
good air, which ought to be preferred above such nice rules." He then
goes on to explain that in vocal music the parts should move smoothly,
but that in instrumental music greater freedom would be admissible, and
he points out the Italian composers as worthy models. He also gives a
"Canon, four in one," by Dr. Blow, of whom he says, his "character is
sufficiently known by his works, of which this very instance is enough
to recommend him for one of the greatest masters in the world."
To Purcell's labours of this year, 1694, we are indebted for the music
to the plays of _Don Quixote_, Parts I. and II. Purcell only composed a
portion of the music required, but amongst the number are two worthy of
particular mention,--a duet, "Sing all ye Muses," and a bass song, "Let
the dreadful engines." The libretto was the work of D'Urfey.
Purcell also wrote music for a comedy called the _Married Beau_, by
Crowne; for the _Double Dealer_, a comedy by Congreve; for the _Fatal
Marriage_, a tragedy by Southerne; and also for _Love Triumphant_, a
tragi-comedy by Dryden[47].
To these must be added another "Ode for the Queen's Birthday,"
beginning, "Come ye sons of art;" and last and best of all, the great
"Te Deum and Jubilate" in D, composed with orchestral accompaniments,
the first example of such a work this country had seen.
Composed expressly for the festival of St. Cecilia's Day, 1694, the
music was published by Purcell's widow in 1697, with the following
dedication:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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