Event
Magnificat! Choral and Instrumental Music of Purcell and Haydn
Come hear the Berkshire Bach Society chorus and chamber ensemble explore the intimate church music of Henry Purcell and the humorous, sophisticated part-songs of Joseph Haydn. We cover everything from Purcell's elegant funeral music for the beloved Queen Mary to Haydn's party songs about drinking, gambling and harmony(!)in marriage (watch out scorpions are lurking).
Little is known about the life of Henry Purcell. We know that he was employed at Westminster for three different Kings over a span of 25 years. At the time Purcell came into his own as a composer, London had just endured the bubonic plague of 1665 and the Great Fire, one year later. That Purcell's music is so forward-thinking is perhaps no surprise, given the time in which he lived and worked. His harmonies and rhythms are innovative when compared to other composers of the day. The two settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (in the related keys of B-flat Major and G Minor) may be the best known of Purcell's church service music. The B-flat setting is a bit more conservative, with the G minor setting employing some flashy rhythms and inventive harmonies. "Man That is Born of a Woman" was written to commemorate the death of the beloved Queen Mary. The music was performed at her funeral in March of 1695. How poignant that, a mere 8 months later, the same music was performed at Purcell's own funeral, also held in Westminster Abbey. Purcell died at the ripe old age of 36.
Haydn, on the other hand, lived a good long life (1732-1809). The part-songs heard today date from the late part of his life---he finished them at age 70. It is not unusual for composers (or writers, for that matter) to go through fallow periods. In June of 1799, Haydn wrote to his publishers:
"It is true that the world pays me a lot of compliments but nobody will believe the amount of trouble and effort I have to go through for my composing. For days on end I cannot find a single idea. Then, praise be to God, it all comes back again." However, after completing these part-songs in 1802, Haydn wrote to G. A. Griesinger, his friend and biographer, "These songs were composed purely 'con amore' in happy hours, and not on order."
And, the connection between our two composers? Haydn was no doubt aware of the English party songs, sometimes called Glees or Catches or Rounds. Purcell was a master of that form. Was this Haydn's tribute to Purcell?
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LocationFirst Congregational Church, Stockbridge
4 Main Street
Stockbridge, MA 01262
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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