Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695), was an English composer.
Although incorporating Italian and French stylistic
elements into his compositions, Purcell's legacy was a
uniquely English form of Baroque music. He is generally
considered to be one of the greatest English composers;
no other native-born English composer approached his
fame until Edward Elgar.
The "operatic" hit of the last decade of the
seventeenth century in London was the work of a
composer already being acknowledged England's b...(+)
Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695), was an English composer.
Although incorporating Italian and French stylistic
elements into his compositions, Purcell's legacy was a
uniquely English form of Baroque music. He is generally
considered to be one of the greatest English composers;
no other native-born English composer approached his
fame until Edward Elgar.
The "operatic" hit of the last decade of the
seventeenth century in London was the work of a
composer already being acknowledged England's best ever
and the poet (John Dryden) who then and now is
considered the best of his century. Technically, the
work is called a "semi-opera," as it was a mixture of
spoken passages and musical ones. The English were not
ready to embrace full-length grand operas in the French
or Italian styles in their own language.
It is set in the time of King Arthur's battles against
the Saxon King Oswald (and his Wizard Merlin against
Oswald's wizard Osmond). Each scene is full of action,
be it ritual, pageantry, battle, or scenes of magic,
and all the music flows directly from the action in a
convincing manner. The dramatic crux of the story is
Arthur's wooing of the blind Queen Emmeline. (It is a
peculiar convention of semi-operas of the time that the
two leading characters do not sing, but this was not a
disadvantage as then many of the leading singers were
not convincing actors.)
The production was by the Theatre Royal company at
Dorset Garden on the Thames at Blackfriars, which had
the stage machinery needed for the fast and elaborate
special effects and scene changes.
"What Power Art Thou" (AKA The Cold song) is formed on
the lyrics from John Dryden (1631 - 1700): "What power
art thou, who from below. Hast made me rise unwillingly
and slow. From beds of everlasting snow? See'st thou
not how stiff and wondrous old. Far unfit to bear the
bitter cold,I can scarcely move or draw my breath? Let
me, let me freeze again to death."
Although originally written for Opera, I created this
Interpretation of "What Power art thou, who from below"
from "King Arthur" (Z.628 Act III Scene 2 No. 22) for
Oboe, Bassoon & Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
