The boy Henry Purcell (Extract no.1)

An extract from "England, my England - The Story of Henry Purcell". Music directed by John Eliot Gardiner. Film directed by Tony Palmer.

[@GabrielleEarlam]

I had no idea where this would take me, but i'm so glad it did! ;)

[@AML2000]

It wasn't just happenstance that resulted in Purcell writing music for Charles II. Charles spent some time in exile at the court of Louis XIV, and became acquainted with the new-fangled music being played there. In England, he wanted the same type of music played at his chapel, but the old musicians didn't know how to do it, so he assigned the choir boys to write music for him. Thus a generation of English composers, such as Michael Wise, Pelham Humphrey, John Blow, and of course Purcell arose. The King even payed for them to go to France to further their musical education after their voices broke. Purcell's earliest work was written when he was 8 and appears bound in a book of anthems that the choirboys wrote for the royal chapel.

[@averayugen7607]

How did you learn that? So little written about him supposedly! Anyway I'm impressed what you said. So the boys were offererd the job of reforming English music in the 17th Century? Do you really think Henry wrote "I attempt from love's sickness..."?? OMG... Damn he was good!

[@AML2000]

@@averayugen7607 I'm pretty sure I first read about it in the program notes to the vinyl albums I bought many years ago!

[@kikiadiwilhelm3214]

@@averayugen7607 I attempt from loves sickneß was writ later, with words by Dryden. Thé earliest known surviveing pièce by Purcell I Know of is Sweete tyranneß I now resign.

[@ssoomee]

hi, could u upload the whole film? i am very eager to see this...

[@grantco1313]

Nice film, but I don't know why they're implying that Purcell wrote "I Attempt From Love's Sickness" when he was around 10...