Published
English Royal Funeral Music
We know now that Purcell’s three Funeral Sentences were not written for the funeral of Queen Mary in 1695. Following the tradition of the English court, it was pieces by Thomas Morley, originally written for the funeral of Elizabeth I, that were sung there. Purcell’s only contribution to the ceremony was the composition of two pieces for slide trumpets (March and Canzona), and the anthem in the archaic style Thou knowest, Lord. During the funeral procession to Westminster Abbey, a band of oboes played two marches written by John Paisible and Thomas Tollet. This recording assembles the music composed for the funeral of Queen Mary and that used at the funeral of Elizabeth I in 1603. The programme is completed by Purcell’s sublime a cappella anthems and a moving anthem by Weelkes on the death of Thomas Morley.
Shedding new light on the funeral of Queen Mary, Vox Luminis has created an elaborate reconstruction of the 1695 ceremony along with music heard at the funeral of Elizabeth I in 1603. The recording features three “Dirge Anthems” by Thomas Morley, originally written for the Elizabeth I; Henry Purcell’s two pieces for slide trumpets (“The Queen’s Funeral March” and “Canzona”) and sublime a cappella anthems; and two marches by John Paisible and Thomas Tollet, which were played by a band of oboes during the funeral procession to Westminster Abbey. Also heard is the moving anthem by Thomas Weelkes on the death of Thomas Morley, “Death hath deprived me.” The recording features contributions from two superb period instrument ensembles, Les Trompettes des Plaisirs and Lingua Franca.
We know now that Purcell’s three Funeral Sentences were not written for the funeral of Queen Mary in 1695. Following the tradition of the English court, it was pieces by Thomas Morley, originally written for the funeral of Elizabeth I, that were sung there. Purcell’s only contribution to the ceremony was the composition of two pieces for slide trumpets (March and Canzona), and the anthem in the archaic style Thou knowest, Lord. During the funeral procession to Westminster Abbey, a band of oboes played two marches written by John Paisible and Thomas Tollet. This recording assembles the music composed for the funeral of Queen Mary and that used at the funeral of Elizabeth I in 1603. The programme is completed by Purcell’s sublime a cappella anthems and a moving anthem by Weelkes on the death of Thomas Morley.