Henry Purcell

Biography by Robert Cummings

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Purcell was England's most important Baroque composer and was hailed as "Orpheus Brittanicus" for his brilliant vocal settings and profoundly expressive music.
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Composition Highlights

Title	Year	Avg. Duration	Genre
The Fairy Queen, semi-opera, Z. 629	1689	01:56:50	Vocal Music
Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626	1689	45:27	Opera
Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary, march and canzona for orchestra, Z. 860	1695	04:31	Choral
The Tempest, or, The Enchanted Island, semi-opera, Z. 631	1695	55:07	Vocal Music Opera
Come ye sons of art away (Birthday ode for Queen Mary), for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 323	1694	13:36	Choral
Fantasias (15) for viols	1680	09:19	Chamber Music
Sonata [Suite] for trumpet, 2 violins, viola & continuo in D major, Z. 850	1690	05:10	Chamber Music
Hear my prayer, O Lord, anthem for chorus, violins & continuo, Z. 15 (unfinished)	1681	02:33	Choral
The Indian Queen, semi-opera, Z. 630	1695	01:02:58	Vocal Music Opera
King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628	1691	01:26:38	Vocal Music Opera
Prophetess, or The History of Dioclesian, semi-opera, Z. 627	1690	01:18:52	Vocal Music Opera
Sonata in 3 parts for two violins, bass viol & continuo No. 7 in E minor, Z. 796	1680	07:46	Chamber Music
If music be the food of love, song, Z. 379 (3 settings)	1692	02:53	Vocal Music
Hail, bright Cecilia (Ode for St. Cecilia's Day), for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 328	1692	49:35	Choral
Now that the sun hath veiled his light, sacred song for soprano & continuo ("An Evening Hymn"), Z. 193	1687	04:31	Vocal Music
Fantasia upon a ground, for 3 violins (or recorders) & continuo in D major/F major, Z. 731	1680	04:59	Chamber Music
Sound the trumpet, beat the drum (Welcome Ode for James II), for 2 altos, tenors, basses, chorus, strings & continuo, Z. 335	1687	05:46	Choral
Music for a While (from "Oedipus"), song, Z. 583/2	1692	03:51	Vocal Music
Rejoice in the Lord alway ("Bell Anthem"), anthem for alto, tenor, bass, chorus, strings & organ, Z. 49	1683	08:10	Choral
Remember not, Lord, our offences, anthem for chorus & organ, Z. 50	1681	03:12	Choral