Henry Purcell & Jeremiah Clarke
Henry Purcell ‘Nymphs and shepherds come away’ from The Libertine
Curtain tune from Timon of Athens
‘Ye twice ten hundred deities’ from The Indian Queen
Welcome, glorious morn
Jeremiah Clarke All praise to thee my God this night
Airs from The Island Princess
Song on the Death of Henry Purcell
Performers:
Philippa Hyde soprano
Francis Gush countertenor
Stuart O’Hara bass
Psalmody
Essex Baroque Orchestra
directed by Peter Holman
Jeremiah Clarke was one of Henry Purcell’s most talented followers, known today (rather unjustly) mainly as the real composer of ‘Purcell’s Trumpet Voluntary’. In this ground-breaking programme we contrast his dramatic and imaginative ode in memory of Purcell with one of the finest of Purcell’s court odes, written for Queen Mary’s birthday on 30 April 1691. There is also theatre music by both composers, including Clarke’s tuneful airs for The Island Princess (1699) and the evergreen ‘Nymphs and shepherds’ from Purcell’s music for The Libertine (1692).
Peter Holman has delighted SVF audiences for many years with authoritative performances of the music of Henry Purcell and is an acknowledged expert on the composer.