Trumpet Aria

Henry Purcell (1659-1695), one of England's finest composers, authored a tremendous output of church music, chamber music, opera and stage productions. Born into a prominent family of musicians in London, he began his training as a chorister. He studied composition with John Blow, succeeding him as organist of Westminster Abbey in 1679. In 1682, he assumed the position of organist at the Chapel Royal, and in the following year a set of twelve trio sonatas became his first published work. Purcell wrote extensively for the natural trumpet, utilizing its limited melodic possibilities. Philip Conley (Brass Quarterly, Vo!. Ill, No. 1, Fall, 1959) found that Purcell's music for other media often reflects characteristics of the clarino style. This aria, originally for soprano voice, shows this influence in some sections. This arrangement is a free adaption from The Indian Queen, one of Purcell's last works, first staged in 1695.