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1980-01-05
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People In Music History
Purcell, Henry (1659-1695) English composer; boy chorister; pupil of Humfrey
and of Blow, whom he succeeded as organist of Westminster Abbey in 1679. Said
to have died through a cold caused by being locked out of his own house at
night. Wrote short opera Dido and Aeneas for a Chelsea girls' school; also
semioperas (music not altogether predominant) including The Fairy Queen, King
Arthur, Dioclesian, The Indian Queen, and music for various plays. Other works
include Odes for St. Cecilia's Day and other cantatas; songs, keyboard works;
trio-sonatas (some described as in 3 parts and some as in 4, but identical in
scoring), including the Golden Sonata; anthems (including Bell Anthem) and
other church music. His subtlety of rhythm (especially in the treatment of
English words) and harmony has contributed to his high 20th century repute; he
notably influenced Holst Britten, and others. Purcell's work is indexed by Z
(Zimmerman) numbers.