Koor & Orkest Collegium Vocale Gent olv. Philippe Herreweghe

The final months of 1694 were exceptionally busy for Henry Purcell. In November, as court composer, he wrote music for the return of King William III. And at the end of that month he composed a superb ‘Te Deum’ for the annual feast of St Cecilia. With all the trimmings, of course, but also with some highly personal music full of dissonance. A plea for sympathy from a composer at the height of his powers. In December an outbreak of smallpox swept through London. One of its victims was the very popular Queen Mary. For her funeral, this English master once again wrote some magnificent music where grief seems to pulsate gently in the muted drums and sombre wind instruments. Sadly enough, this same music was played a year later at his own funeral.

Purcell astonishes us again and again with an abundance of emotion, the alternation of grandeur and intimacy, and masterful construction. There is no better illustration of this than ‘Hail, bright Cecilia’, probably his most ambitious composition.