麻豆约拍

Donald Macleod explores the changing role of Purcell within the royal household, and the music he wrote for the various monarchs who ruled during his lifetime.

Henry Purcell was the most important English composer of the era, described as the "Orpheus Britannicus" for his ability to combine Baroque counterpoint with dramatic settings of English words. He composed music for the church, the royal court, the theatre and for England鈥檚 newly emerging concert scene, with an intelligence and creativity that marked him out as one of the most original composers in all of Europe. More than anything, though, he composed music for London 鈥� the city where he lived all of his short life. Over the course of this week, Donald Macleod explores the city during Purcell鈥檚 lifetime and London鈥檚 effect on a man who lays claim to being England鈥檚 greatest composer. During Purcell鈥檚 childhood, it was a city reeling from civil war, the disastrous spread of disease, and the destruction wreaked by the Great Fire. We鈥檒l explore London鈥檚 churches, and music Purcell wrote for them, especially Westminster Abbey, where Purcell was organist, the state of London鈥檚 theatre scene in Purcell鈥檚 day, and the changing demands for music from the various monarchs of the composer鈥檚 lifetime. Finally, Donald explores London鈥檚 response to the shock of Purcell鈥檚 death in his mid-30s, and the tributes paid to the composer from his own Fairest Isle.

In Wednesday鈥檚 episode, Donald explores the changing role of Purcell within the royal household, and the music he wrote for the various monarchs who ruled during his lifetime. We鈥檒l hear of a traumatic royal journey on the recently thawed Thames, and visit a haunted Whitehall, Kensington Palace, and hear of a money-making scheme Purcell implemented for the Coronations at Westminster Abbey, and its mixed success!

Cold Song 鈥榃hat Power art Thou鈥� (from King Arthur)
Andreas Scholl, countertenor
Accademia Bizantina
Stefano Montanari, conductor

They that go down to the sea in ships
David Thomas, bass
Matthew Bright, alto
Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford
The English Concert
Trevor Pinnock, director

Sighs for our late sovereign Charles the Second, Z 380 鈥業f pray鈥檙s and tears鈥�
Gerard Lesne, countertenor
Il Seminario Musicale

My heart is inditing
Choir of New College Oxford
Academy of Ancient Music
Edward Higginbottom, conductor

Sefauchi's Farewell, Z 656
John Gibbons, harpsichord

Love's Goddess Sure Was Blind, Z 331 (VI May Her Blessed Example Chase)
Neil MacKenzie, tenor
Symphony of Harmony and Invention
Harry Christophers, director

Come ye sons of art (excerpt)
James Bowman, countertenor
Christopher Robson, countertenor
David Wilson-Johnson, baritone
Michael George, bass
Choir of the Age of Enlightenment
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Gustav Leonhardt, director

Produced by Sam Phillips for 麻豆约拍 Audio Wales & West

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