Purcell studies

the long version

This volume of specially commissioned essays has been collected to celebrate the tercentenary of Purcell's death. The essays are representative of the best recent research and explore the following areas: the autograph manuscripts, Purcell's compositional technique, the relationship between Purcell and his teacher John Blow, a reassessment of Purcell's court odes, performance practice and word-setting, and eighteenth-century reception history, particularly regarding King Arthur. The volume is richly illustrated with music examples and photographs of important manuscripts. This is also the first collection to analyse Purcell's compositional techniques through detailed study of his manuscripts and the first to report on the discovery of two important autograph manuscripts. The book opens with an assessment of Purcell's elusive personality.