Henry Purcell

Biography by Robert Cummings

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
Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626	1689	45:27	Opera
The Fairy Queen, semi-opera, Z. 629	1689	01:55:48	Vocal Music
Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary, march and canzona for orchestra, Z. 860	1695	04:31	Choral
Come ye sons of art away (Birthday ode for Queen Mary), for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 323	1694	13:36	Choral
The Tempest, or, The Enchanted Island, semi-opera, Z. 631	1695	55:07	Vocal Music Opera
Fantasias (15) for viols	1680	09:19	Chamber Music
Hear my prayer, O Lord, anthem for chorus, violins & continuo, Z. 15 (unfinished)	1681	02:33	Choral
Sonata [Suite] for trumpet, 2 violins, viola & continuo in D major, Z. 850	1690	05:07	Chamber Music
King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628	1691	01:26:03	Vocal Music Opera
The Indian Queen, semi-opera, Z. 630	1695	01:02:58	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
Chacony, for 4 strings in G minor, Z. 730	1678	05:27	Chamber Music
Lord, what is man?, sacred song for soprano & continuo, Z. 192	1692	05:46	Vocal Music
A New Ground (from "Welcome to All the Pleasures"), for harpsichord in E minor, ZT 682	1683	02:37	Keyboard
If music be the food of love, song, Z. 379 (3 settings)	1692	02:53	Vocal Music
Sonata in 4 parts for two violins, bass viol & continuo No. 1 in B minor, Z. 802	1680	06:20	Chamber Music
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
Hail, bright Cecilia (Ode for St. Cecilia's Day), for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 328	1692	49:35	Choral