Spanning his short creative life, Purcell’s Songs are a constant feature in his output. In between official Odes, the semi-operas and instrumental music is a profusion of wonderfully intimate, sometimes bawdy and explicit songs. Written for his circle of friends the texts are from a variety of sources – Shakespeare and Dryden understandably loom large among the poets whose words were set by Purcell. In 1698 his songs were published complete in Orpheus Britannicus.
Works:
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Purcell: An Evening Hymn 'Now that the sun hath veiled his light', Z193
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Purcell: Chacony in G minor - for Two Violins, Viola and Bass Z730
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Purcell: Come ye sons of art (Ode for Queen Mary's birthday, 1694), Z 323
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Purcell: Here the deities approve, Z339
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Purcell: If music be the food of love, Z379
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Purcell: In the black dismal dungeon of despair, Z190
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Purcell: Incassum Lesbia, incassum rogas ('The Queen's Epicedium'), Z383
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Purcell: Music for a while, Z583
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Purcell: O solitude, my sweetest choice, Z406
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Purcell: Oedipus: incidental music, Z583
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Purcell: Pausanius, the Betrayer of his Country: incidental music, Z585
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Purcell: Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian, Z627
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Purcell: Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian, Z627: extracts
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Purcell: Strike the Viol (from Come Ye Sons of Art, Z323)
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Purcell: Sweeter than Roses (from Pausanius, the Betrayer of his Country, Z585)
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Purcell: Timon of Athens, Z632
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Purcell: Welcome to all the pleasures (from Ode for St Cecilia's Day 1683), Z339