Henry Purcell

PURCELL, Henry. b. London, perhaps Westminster, [autumn] 1659; d. Westminster, 21 November 1695. A Child of the Chapel Royal, he was educated at a time when choirs in England were being revived during the Restoration of Charles II (after the proscription of choirs and organs in church during the Commonwealth under Cromwell). He may have been taught by John Blow and Pelham Humfrey. His gifts were evident early, and after his voice broke in 1673 he was kept on at court as an assistant to John Hingston, keeper of wind instruments (including organs). In 1677, with the death of Matthew Locke, he became composer for the violins, and after the resignation of Blow at Westminster Abbey, he became...

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