Raised by his uncle following his father's detah in 1664, Purcell was admitted as a chorister at His Majesty's chapel where he studied under Cooke, Humfrey and John Blow. He attended Westminster School and in 1676 became the organist at Westminster Abbey. He began composing as early as nine years, although the earliest known verifiable work dates from 1670. In 1676, he composed the music for Dryden's Aureng-Zebe and the following year, Aphra Behn's Abdelazar. After a number of years composing music for the theatre, Purcell turned to sacred music in 1680. In 1682, he became the organist of the Chapel-Royal. In 1683, he published Twelve Sonatas, his first formally printed composition. In 1685, he composed hymns for the coronation of King James II. In 1687, he returned to the theatre, composing the music for Dryden's Tyrannic Love. Purcell produced a large quantity of odes, cantatas, sacred music and keyboard works in addition to his dramatical compositions. He died when only 36, ostensibly from tuberculosis. Today, he is considered to be one of the greatest of English composers. |
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