Henry Purcell (1659 – 1695) was an English composer.
His style of Baroque music was uniquely English,
although it incorporated Italian and French elements.
Generally considered among the greatest English opera
composers, Purcell is often linked with John Dunstaple
and William Byrd as England's most important early
music composers. No later native-born English composer
approached his fame until Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan
Williams, Gustav Holst, William Walton and Benjamin
Britten in the 20th c...(+)
Henry Purcell (1659 – 1695) was an English composer.
His style of Baroque music was uniquely English,
although it incorporated Italian and French elements.
Generally considered among the greatest English opera
composers, Purcell is often linked with John Dunstaple
and William Byrd as England's most important early
music composers. No later native-born English composer
approached his fame until Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan
Williams, Gustav Holst, William Walton and Benjamin
Britten in the 20th century.
"I was glad" (Latin incipit, "Laetatus sum") is a
choral introit which is a popular piece in the musical
repertoire of the Anglican church. The anthem "Laetatus
sum" has been sung at the entrance of the monarch at
every British coronation since that of King Charles I.
Settings for earlier coronations were composed by Henry
Purcell and William Boyce, among others. Thomas
Attwood's setting was written for the coronation of
King George IV in 1821. Parry's version was composed
for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, and
revised in 1911 for that of King George V, when the
familiar introduction was added. This setting employs
antiphonal choir effects and brass fanfares.
The text consists of verses from Psalm 122. Numerous
composers have set the words to music, among them Henry
Purcell and William Boyce; its most famous setting was
written in 1902 by Sir Hubert Parry, which sets only
verses 1–3, 6, and 7. Henry Purcell and John Blow
probably wrote a setting of it for the coronation of
King James II in 1685.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_was_glad).
Although originally composed for Voices (SSATB), I
created this interpretation of "Laetatus sum" ("I was
glad") for the coronation of King James II for Winds
(Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, French Horn & Bassoon) &
Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).