William H. Husk

“ The attempt he confesses to be bold and daring; their being pens and artists of more eminent abilities, much better qualified for the imployment than his or himself, which he well hopes these his weak endeavours will in due time provoke and enflame to a more accurate undertaking. He is not ashamed to own his unskilfulness in the Italian language, but that is the unhappiness of his education, which cannot justly be counted his fault ”

“ It is scarcely possible to estimate the loss to English art by the early death of Henry Purcell. Had his life been prolonged for him to have witnessed the introduction into England of the Italian opera and the early career in this country of Handel, what might not have been expected from him? ”

“ Poetry and Painting have arriv'd to perfection in our own country; Musick is yet but in its nonage, a forward child, which gives hope of what it may be hereafter in England when the masters of it shall find more encouragement. 'Tis now learning Italian, which is its best master, and studying a little of the French air, to give it somewhat more of gayety and fashion. ”

“ The composer published in the same year 'Some Select Songs as they are sung in The Fairy Queen,' 10 in number; 10 other pieces are in the 'Orpheus Britannicus,' and the instrumental music is in the 'Ayres for the Theatre'; the Sacred Harmonic Society possesses a MS. of nearly the whole of the fourth act, but the remainder of the choral portions and two or three more songs are irretrievably lost. The score was lost in or before 1700, in October of which year the patentees of the theatre offered a reward of £20 for the recovery of it or a copy of it. ”

“ He also composed songs for Dryden's 'Indian Emperor' (a sequel to 'The Indian Queen') and 'Cleomenes,' Southerne's comedy 'The Wives' Excuse,' and D'Urfey's comedy 'The Marriage Hater match'd,' and the music in the third act of Dryden and Lee's tragedy 'Œdipus.' But perhaps the most important dramatic composition he produced this year was the opera of 'The Fairy Queen,' an anonymous adaptation of Shakspere's 'Midsummer Night's Dream,' which was very well received by the public, although the great expense incurred for scenery, dresses, etc., rendered it but little productive to the managers. ”

“ One of the songs which has been preserved, 'If love's a sweet passion,' long remained in favour: Gay wrote one of the songs in 'The Beggar's Opera' to the air. In the same year Purcell set Sir Charles Sedley's Ode for the queen's birthday, 'Love's Goddess sure was blind.' One of the airs in this Ode, 'May her blest example chase,' has for its bass the air of the old song 'Cold and raw' ”

“ Strange to say, Trinity College register does not contain any record of or allusion to the centenary celebration. In 1694 Purcell composed portions of the music for Parts I. and II. of D'Urfey's 'Don Quixote' (Part I. containing the duet 'Sing, all ye Muses,' and the fine bass song 'Let the dreadful engines') , an overture, act-tunes and songs for Congreve's comedy, 'The Double Dealer,' and songs for Crowne's comedy 'The Married Beau,' Southerne's tragedy 'The Fatal Marriage,' and Dryden's play 'Love triumphant.' He also composed the Ode for the queen's birthday, 'Come, come, ye Sons of Art' ”

“ Both of them may excel apart, but surely they are most excellent when they are joyn'd, because nothing is then wanting to either of their proportions; for thus they appear like wit and beauty in the same person. ”

“ He exerted himself greatly in promoting the interests of the South Wales Choral Union on its visits to London in 1872 and 1873, when they successfully competed at the National Music Meetings at the Crystal Palace. As a teacher Mr. Richards is deservedly esteemed and has a very large clientele in London. ”

“ In 1696 he composed songs for Mary Pix's tragedy 'Ibrahim XII.' and Cibber's comedy 'Love's Last Shift,' and the masque in the fifth act of 'The Indian Queen.' In 1697 he composed the music for Powell and Verbruggen's opera 'Brutus of Alba,' Settle's opera 'The New World in the Moon,' and the instrumental music for D'Urfey's opera 'Cynthia and Endymion.' In 1698 he composed the songs in Gildon's tragedy 'Phaeton, or, The Fatal Divorce,' an Ode for the Princess Anne's birthday, and Bishop's Ode on St. ”

“ At a very early age she studied singing under Sir George Smart, and about 1842 appeared in public with her elder sister, Susan (afterwards Mrs. Galton) [App. p.766 "omit the words (afterwards Mrs. Galton) . Susan, or more correctly Susannah, Pyne, married Mr. F. H. Standing, a baritone singer, known professionally as Celli; Mrs. Galton was another sister, who had no repute as a singer.] , with great success. In 1847 the sisters performed in Paris. ”

“ Thomas, brother to Henry Purcell the elder, was appointed Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in 1660. In 1661 he was lay vicar of Westminster Abbey and copyist. On Aug. 8, 1662, he was appointed, jointly with Pelham Humfrey, Composer in Ordinary for the Violins to His Majesty, and on Nov. 29 following, 'Musician in Ordinary for the Lute and Voice in the room of Henry Lawes, deceased.' In 1672 he was, with Humfrey, made Master of the King's Band of Music. He died July 31, and was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey, Aug. ”

“ He composed an Ode or Welcome Song to the King on his return from Newmarket, Oct. 21,—'The summer's absence unconcerned we bear,'—and some songs for the inauguration of the Lord Mayor, Sir William Pritchard, Oct. 29. In 1683 Purcell came forward in a new capacity, viz. as a composer of instrumental chamber music, by the publication of 'Sonnatas of III parts, two Viollins and Basse to the Organ or Harpsichord,' with an engraved portrait of himself, at the age of 24, prefixed. These sonatas are 12 in number, and each comprises an adagio, a canzone (fugue) , a slow movement, and an air ”

“ He was buried Nov. 26 in the north aisle of Westminster Abbey, under the organ. A tablet to his memory, attached to a pillar, and placed there by his pupil, Lady Howard, wife of Sir Robert Howard, bears this inscription, attributed, but upon insufficient grounds, to Dryden 'Here lyes Henry Purcell, Esq.; who left this life, and is gone to that blessed place where only his harmony can be exceeded. ”

“ On March 1850 she sang at the Philharmonic; was engaged the same year at Liverpool, and in 1851 at The Haymarket. On Aug. 14, 1851, she performed the Queen of Night in 'Il Flauto Magico' at the Royal Italian Opera. She also sang in oratorios and at concerts. In Aug. 1854 she embarked for America in company with her sister Susan, W. Harrison, and Borrani. She performed in the principal cities of the United States for three years, being received everywhere with the greatest favour. ”