Purcell: Full Anthems / Music On the Death of Queen Mary

Featuring

Jeremy Summerly
Andrew Carwood
Michael McCarthy
Laurence Cummings
Oxford Camerata
Henry Purcell

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Performer Biography

Laurence Cummings, the organ scholar at Christ Church, Oxford, graduated with First Class Honours in Music in 1989 and later studied at the Royal College of Music.

Historical Context

Queen Mary's death in 1695 was a devastating blow to the country, and her funeral procession was profoundly moving, with black drapery and 300 sombre old women leading the entourage.

Composer Biography

Henry Purcell, one of the most important figures in British music, became organist of Westminster Abbey in 1680 at the age of eighteen.

Compositional Technique

The anthems on this album are 'Full Anthems,' which emphasize the equality of all voices, unlike 'Verse Anthems' where solo voices alternate with the full choir.

Compositional Technique

Purcell's music uniquely blends sharpness and intensity, combining traditional contrapuntal forms with new harmonies, continental elements, and old English folk traditions.

Historical Context

Purcell's compositional career began around 1679, after he had witnessed the devastating London plague of 1665 and the great fire that destroyed parts of the city.