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Author
Henry Purcell (1659-1695: English)- Served as singer, organist and composer in three different royal courts
- has often been called England's finest native composer
- very influential both in England and throughout Europe
- Wikipedia Article
About the Piece
(much of thedescription comes from elements that were brought out by Forney and Machlis, The Enjoyment of Music, and the accompanying DVD)
- Genre is Opera
- Climax on "Remember me" in B section of Aria
- Very sorrowful
- Text language is English (!)
- Ground bass line characterizes emotion of piece
- Extensive use of strings in a decently diminutive accompaniment; focus is on performer.
Purpose
Reflections
This piece is beautiful! This is what opera has been missing for me whenever I have heard it before--a comprehension. I would be much more inclined to enjoy an English opera (or any classical piece in English for that matter), because the text painting makes sense. While I have the translations in front of me for songs in other languages, it's never the same. When a song climaxes on a particular word, I never know which English word that is. Also, something about an actual English word, with all of its connotations that I can understand, being sung with such grace.