Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell is one of England’s most renowned composers of the Baroque era. One could also say that his work and influence still strikes people of today in many ways and puts awe into their minds when they hear is story. In his short life of thirty seven years, Purcell was able to write over 300 works of music that was secular and sacred; instrumental and vocal. Henry Purcell’s success will live on to inspire many musicians and/or composers in the present and future, including my own.
Although there is still speculation on when Purcell was born, historians believe that he was born in late 1658 or 1659 in Westminster, England. In 1664, Purcell’s father died and was left to his uncle Thomas Purcell. Thomas Purcell was a gentleman of the King’s Chapel Royal, which was a group of priests and singers chosen by the King. Henry was accepted as a chorister of the Chapel Royal probably because of his uncle’s ties to it. As a chorister at the Chapel Royal, Purcell studied under Captain Henry Cooke and Pelham Humfrey. When Purcell’s voice broke in 1673, he was given the task of assistant to John Hingeston, who was an organ builder and keeper of the King’s instruments. When Humfrey died, Purcell continued his studies under Dr. John Blow, organist of Westminster Abbey.
In 1677, Purcell was given his first job as court composer of the “Twenty-Four Violins”, the King’s band of stringed instruments. Although he had this task of composing for this band, he wasn’t restricted to just writing instrumental works. In 1679, Dr. Blow gave up his position as organist of Westminster Abbey to Purcell. At his time in Westminster Abbey he wrote mostly chamber music and trio sonatas of sacred stature, but he did find time to compose what seemed to be his favorite opera, musical dramas, and incidental stage music because of the rule of King William and Queen Mary in 1689 which caused fewer opportunities for court composers. One of his best works of his time was an opera named Dido and Aeneas. To this day that opera still stands as one of the greatest ever written. Purcell was married to Frances Peters in 1682, with whom he had six children. Out of those six, only two lived to survive adulthood.
Henry Purcell died at the age of thirty seven in Westminster on November 21, 1695. There is still speculation on how he died. Some historians believe he died from tuberculosis and some believe he died from chocolate poisoning. Purcell had such an influence on people of his time and his music was loved by the people of England. Dr. Blow, who Purcell studied under, admitted to Purcell being a greater genius. He wrote an ode for his Purcell’s death and would have this title marked on his tombstone when he passed away “Master to the famous Henry Purcell”. Henry Purcell was and is buried under the organ of Westminster Abbey. His epitaph reads “Here lyes Henry Purcell Esq., who left this life and is gone to that blessed place where only his harmony can be exceeded.” It is amazing how one man’s life of only thirty seven years can have an impact of many lives for more than three hundred years.
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http://www.nndb.com/people/352/000093073/
Resource List
Sartorius, M. (n.d.). Baroque Composers and Musicians: Henry Purcell. Retrieved September 26, 2010, from http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxpurcell.html
Tuppen, S. (2006). Henry Purcell. Retrieved September 28, 2010, from http://www.henrypurcell.org.uk/purcell_biography.html
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