Henry Purcell: Keyboard Works: Piano: Instrumental Album

Music for Strings and Keyboard Edited Under the Supervision of the Purcell Society

7 Pieces for Descant Recorder and Keyboard-As well as being a successful church and court composer Purcell wrote extensively for the stage composing several operas semi-operas and masques. Now Gwilym Beechey has made seven of these fantastic works accessible to the instrumental player carefully choosing and arranging a selection of these pieces for descant recorder and keyboard. Included in this edition are dances airs and jigs from Purcell’s popular opera King Arthur (1691) and semi-operas The Fairy Queen (1692) and The Indian Queen (1695). A Purcell Suite also features one of his most famous pieces the Rondeau in D minor from the incidental music he wrote for Abdelazer.

Sing, Choirs! is a library in miniature. It contains many of the Christian church's popular traditional anthems, including at least one example that will be suitable for each of the major services of the year. A number of Anglican chants (Psalms, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis) are included, set out in a way that should enable those who are unfamiliar with the style to perform them easily. The selection of movements from the Mass can be used to enrich the music of the liturgy in services. Many of the works in Sing, Choirs! are presented in their original form, such as Bruckner's Locus Iste and Mozart's Laudate Dominum . Others are arrangements, adaptations or longer pieces, abridged to bring them into the scope of a useable anthem, including choral arrangements of Handel's Largo , the Ave Marias by Schubert and by Bach and Gounod, and Franck's Panis Angelicus amongst many others. This collection has practicability as a priority. The Organ parts can be played on either the Piano or the Keyboard. Much of the music in Sing, Choirs! will be suitable for special occasions, making this an indispensable volume for choirs singing at weekly church services, weddings, funerals and in the concert hall. / Choeur Mixte (SATB) Et Orgue

The Prince of Denmark's March-Trumpet Aire-For a long time the 'Trumpet Voluntary' had been considered to be a composition by Henry Purcell but it was Jeremiah Clarke who actually composed this highlight of trumpet literature. Also known as The Prince of Denmark March it was originally written for keyboard instruments. Clarke (1674-1707) organist and choir master at the London Saint Paul's Cathedral composed a lot of works but this wonderful gem is the only one that has remained alive - and is often played at weddings in England still today. The same festive character can be found in another composition by Clarke - 'Trumpet Aire' an ideal complement to the better known sister work.The two settings are now availablein a well-priced single edition - to the great delight of performers and listeners alike we are sure.