Part 8
"Several persons of quality, having for the encouragement of musick advanced 200 guineas, to be distributed in 4 prizes, the first of 100, the second of 50, the third of 30, and the fourth of 20 guineas, to such masters as shall be adjudged to compose the best; this is therefore to give notice, that those who intend to put in for the prizes are to repair to Jacob Tonson at Gray's-Inn Gate, before Easter next day, where they may be further informed."
The Earl of Halifax was the originator and one of the principal contributors to the prize fund; he was also one of the adjudicators. The poem selected for the composers to exercise their skill and fancy on was "The Judgment of Paris," written by Congreve. The first prize was won by John Weldon,[63] the second by John Eccles, _the third by Daniel Purcell_, and the fourth by Godfrey Finger.
The prize compositions of Daniel Purcell and Eccles were speedily published, but Weldon's work remains in MS., as does also that by Finger, who was so annoyed at the small success his composition achieved that he left England in disgust.
In 1701 Daniel Purcell composed music for "The Unhappy Penitent," a tragedy by Catherine Trotter; in 1702 for "The Inconstant," a comedy by Farquhar. In the _Diverting Post_, October 28th, 1704, we read--
"The Play-house in the Hay-Market (the architect being John Vanbrugh, Esq.), built by the subscription money of most of our Nobility, is almost finish'd: in the meantime two operas, translated from the Italian by good Hands, are setting to musick, one by Mr. Daniel Purcel, which is called 'Orlando Furioso,' and the other by Mr. Clayton: both operas are to be perform'd by the best artists, eminent both for Vocal and Instrumental Musick, at the Opening of the House."
This composition was very highly commended in the _Muses Mercury_, 1707, which speaks also in warm terms of a masque set by Daniel Purcell called "Orpheus and Euridice." In 1707 he composed a "Saint Cecilia Ode," which was performed at Oxford in St. Mary's Hall.
An advertisement in the _Spectator_, No. 340, March 31, 1712, tells us--
"On Wednesday the 3rd of April, at Stationers' Hall, Mr. Daniel Purcell, brother of the memorable Mr. Henry Purcell, will exhibit an entertainment of Vocal and Instrumental Musick entirely new, and all parts to be performed with the greatest excellence."
Amongst his compositions, printed and manuscript; not already mentioned, are Anthems, Songs for the plays "The Careless Husband," "The Humor of the Age," and "Magbeth."[64] "Sonatas or Solos for the violin with a thorough bass for the harpsichord, or bass-violin." "Sonatas for flute and bass," and "A Lamentation for the Death of Mr. Henry Purcell."
The words of this "Lamentation" were written by Nahum Tate, and conclude with the following lines:--
"A sighing Wind, a murm'ring Rill, Our Ears with doleful Accents fill: They are heard, and only they, For sadly thus they seem to say, The Joy, the Pride of Spring is Dead, The Soul of Harmony is fled. Pleasure's flown from Albion's Shore, Wit and Mirth's bright Reign is o're, Strephon and music are no more! Since Nature thus pays Tribute to his Urn, How should a sad, forsaken Brother mourn!"
Daniel Purcell was appointed organist of St. Andrew, Holborn, in 1713, and retained the position until his death in 1717. Sir John Hawkins in his History,[65] says:--
"The occasion of Daniel Purcell's coming to London was as follows:--Dr. Sacheverell, who had been a friend of his brother Henry, having been presented to the living of St. Andrew, Holborn, found an organ in the church of Harris's building, which having never been paid for, had from the time of its erection, in 1699, been shut up. The Doctor upon his coming to the living, by a collection from the parishioners, raised money to pay for it; but the title to the place of organist was litigated, the right of election being in question between the rector, the vestry, and the parish at large. Nevertheless he invited Daniel Purcell to London, and he accepted it; but in February, 1717, the vestry, which in that parish is a select one, thought proper to elect Mr. Maurice Greene, afterwards Dr. Greene, in preference to Purcell, who submitted to stand as a candidate. In the year following Greene was made organist of St. Paul's, and Daniel Purcell being then dead, his nephew Edward was a candidate for the place; but it was conferred on Mr. John Isum, who died in June, 1726."
That Hawkins has made a series of mistakes in the above statement, is clear from the following advertisement, which appeared in the _Daily Courant_, December 12, 1717:--
"Whereas Edward Purcell, only son to the Famous Mr. Henry Purcell, stands candidate for the Organist's place of St. Andrew, Holborn, in the room of his uncle Mr. Daniel Purcell, deceased,--This is to give notice, that the place is to be decided by a general Poll of Housekeepers of the said Parish, whom he humbly hopes, notwithstanding the false and malicious reports of his being a Papist, will be assistant to him in obtaining the said place.
"N.B.--The election will begin upon Tuesday the 17th, at nine in the morning, and continue till Friday following, to four in the afternoon."
This shows that Daniel vacated his organistship by death. Unfortunately the parish book which might tell us the result of the election by the householders cannot be found; but it evidently was not permitted to be a final decision, for on the 17th of the ensuing February, 1718, a Vestry was held, of which the following is a minute:--[66]
"The question being put whether the vestry should take the election of an organist into their nomination, it was agreed in the affirmative.
"The candidates were--
MR. SHORT " ISHAM " YOUNG " GREEN ////// " PURSILL " HAYDON " HARRIS " HART
"Mr. Green is elected Organist of the Parish of St. Andrew, Holborn."
The strokes show that Greene was elected by six votes, seemingly the whole vestry, as no votes are marked against the names of the other candidates. Greene, however, soon resigned the appointment, and a new election took place.
"1718, 3ᵈ of April, Mr. Green yᵉ Organist being elected Organist of St. Paul's and his place as Organist of this Church being become vacant, the Vestry do order his salary be continued to Sunday the 4th of May. It is also ordered that such person who shall be elected Organist of this Parish in the room of Mr. Green, shall be obliged to a constant personall attendance on all Sundays and Holydays.
"The several candidates--
MR. G. HAYDON / " C. YOUNG " EDWARD PURSIL " JOHN ISHAM ///////////
"Agreed that Mr. John Isham be elected Organist of the Parish Church in the room of Mr. Green, and that he have a yearly salary of Fifty pounds payd him out of the Bells and Palls."
Here again Edward Purcell was unsuccessful, Mr. John Isham obtaining eleven votes.
After the death of Daniel Purcell the following advertisement appeared in the _Post Boy_, Saturday, 26th April, 1718:--
"Musick this day published, Being a choice Collection, &c., to which is added all the Psalm tunes by the late Mr. Daniel Purcell."
This work was probably the curious collection still extant bearing the following title: "The Psalms Set full for the Organ or Harpsichord as they are Plaid in Churches and Chappels in the maner given out; as also with their interludes of great Variety, by Mr. Danᴸ Purcell, late Organist of St. Andrew's, Holbourn."
Daniel Purcell is credited by Hawkins as having been more skilful and successful as a punster than as a composer. Of his puns we have now no evidence upon which to form a judgment, but his music exists to show that the historian's verdict is not always to be relied on.
Of the children of Henry Purcell mention has already been made: he had six in all, three of them, John Baptista, Thomas, and Henry, died in infancy, during the lifetime of their father; and it is probable that a fourth child, Mary Peters, survived him but a few months. The daughter Frances, who was born in 1688, outlived both her parents; her mother immediately before her death, in February, 1706, nominated Frances as her executrix and residuary legatee: accordingly she proved the will on the 4th July following. She married Leonard Welsted, a poet and dramatist, son of the Rev. Leonard Welsted, Rector of Abington, Northamptonshire. Welsted had been a King's scholar at Westminster School, from whence he was elected to Trinity College, Cambridge. "When very young he married the daughter of Henry Purcell, the celebrated musician, and obtained an appointment in the Secretary of State's office."[67]
The young couple were of the same age, and must have married when nineteen, as the register of St. Margaret's, Westminster, records the baptism of their daughter Frances on the 2nd of September, 1708.[68] Mrs. Welsted died in 1724, not having attained the age of her celebrated father, and the daughter died in 1726, aged eighteen.
Purcell's youngest son, Edward, born in 1689, was the only one who survived him, and like his father, was but six years old when he became an orphan. His mother had promised her dying husband carefully to attend to the child's education, a promise she conscientiously and affectionately kept for ten years, until 1706, when she died, leaving the lad of sixteen to the guidance of his sister Frances, who was but two years older. The children, however, possessed many influential friends, and in the following year, 1707, Frances married. We know nothing more of Edward's doings for a few succeeding years, but it is probable that he married in 1710, as the register-book of St. Margaret's, Westminster, contains the entry of a baptism on "May 4th, 1711, of Frances, daughter of Edward and Anne Purcell, born on 19th April." The register-book of St. Martin-in-the-Fields for 1716 contains a baptismal entry which seems to refer to a son of Edward Purcell: "Dec. 11, Henry, son of Edward and Anne Purcell, born 26 Nov." In 1717 Edward was a candidate for the organist's place of St. Andrew's, Holborn, as I have shown when speaking of Daniel Purcell; but Edward was, as we have seen, unsuccessful, not only on that occasion, but also in 1718 when he again applied for the appointment. In 1726, on the 8th of July, he was made organist of St. Margaret's, Westminster, and it is said that he succeeded his father as organist of St. Clement's, Eastcheap. In 1738 he was enrolled amongst the first list of members and founders of the "Society of Musicians," now known as the "Royal Society of Musicians," and it is supposed that he died in 1740, as in that year he ceased to be organist of St. Margaret's, Westminster. His successor was appointed on the 6th of August, 1740.
He had a son, the date of whose birth I have not been able to trace, who was named _Edward Henry_. Hawkins blunders here again: he says Edward Purcell "was succeeded by his son Henry, who had been bred up in the King's Chapel under Mr. Gates. This Henry became also organist of St. Edmund the King, London, and after that of St. John, Hackney. He died about twenty-five years ago.[69] His father was a good organist, but himself a very indifferent one."
The statement is brimful of errors, as we shall see.
Chamberlaine's _Magnæ Britannia Notitia_, 1737, on page 219, gives the "children's names" of the Chapel Royal,[70] and there we find _Edward Henry Purcell_. The correctness of the name is confirmed by an entry in a magnificent book of music now in the Queen's library in Buckingham Palace. The volume is wholly in Henry Purcell's autograph. It had belonged to Edward Purcell, and contains an entry in his hand: "Score booke--Anthems and Welcome Songs, and other songs, all by my father." At the other end of the book is an autograph inscription, "Eᵈ H. Purcell, Grandson to the Author of this book."
In 1753, August 11th, the vestry of St. John, Hackney,
"Resolved and agreed that yᵉ place of organist of the Parish be and is declared vacant; agreed that the sallary of yᵉ organist of the Parish be settled.
"Organist his duty.--That the salary of the organist shall for the future be £20 by the year, and that for his said salary he shall attend all Sundays in the year, and on all days whenever a sermon shall be preached, Fast-days excepted, and that on every Sunday throughout the year a voluntary shall be played after both morning and evening service."
"Ordered, that an advertisement be published in the paper called the _Daily Advertiser_, that the place of Organist of this Parish is vacant, and that all persons who are willing to be candidates for the same may apply to Mr. Ch.-warden Barnard."
"On the 22nd Sept., 1753, the candidates appeared separately before the Vestry, 'and a Vestry was held to choose an organist.' Candidates being--
MR. EDWARD HENRY PURCELL 9 Votes. MR. DAVID L. HEUREUX 6 " MR. WILLIAM WARD 2 " MR. RICHARD LOW 0 " MR. THOMAS ARCHER 1 " MR. MOSES PATENCE 0 "
"The majority being for Mr. Ed. Hen. Purcell, he was declared Organist of this Parish till Easter next."
The parish books show that he was re-elected annually down to Easter Tuesday, April 24, 1764, when there is an entry--
"Complaint having been made against Edward Henry Purcell the present organist. Resolved--That the Vestry Clerk do write to the said Edward Henry Purcell and acquaint him that the Vestry insists on his being regular in his attendance, and that he do give in the name of his Deputy to the Churchwardens, and also give notice from time to time to the Churchwardens for the time being when he shall charge him and who he shall appoint in his stead."
"April 30, 1764. The Vestry Clerk acquainted the Vestry that he had wrote to Mr. Purcell the Organist agreeable to the Resolution of the last Vestry. Resolved that the choice of an organist be deferred until the next Vestry and that Mr. Purcell do officiate in the meantime."
There is also an entry made by the Vestry Clerk, April, 1764: "N.B.--Wrote to him and he said he would name his deputy."
On Easter Tuesday, April 8th, 1765, the Vestry minutes record the appointment of organ-blower, but no mention is made of the organist; we may therefore infer that Purcell was not continued in the post, as in the following year, 1766, we read--
"Resolved that David Lᵈ Heureux organist, Sarah Palmer organ-blower, Be and they are hereby continued in their respective offices at their annual Sallarys until Easter Tuesday next."
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 57: Purcell is named as one of the possessors of property in a map of Ireland made about the middle of the seventeenth century.]
[Footnote 58: Cosyn usually meant nephew.]
[Footnote 59: Meaning buried in the Church.]
[Footnote 60: The autograph score is in the British Museum.]
[Footnote 61: "On Wednesday next will be performed at York Buildings Mr. Daniel Purcell's musick, made for last St. Cecilia's Feast, for the benefit of Mr. Howel and Mr. Shore, with an addition of new vocal and instrumental musick."--_London Gazette_, December 29, 1698.]
[Footnote 62: 1700 according to the new style.]
[Footnote 63: A pupil of Henry Purcell.]
[Footnote 64: "A Song sung by Mr. Mason in _Magbeth_, sett by Mr. D. Purcell, 'Cease, gentle Swain,' in the Queen's library, Buckingham Palace."]
[Footnote 65: Vol. ii. p. 759, new Edition. Novello & Co.]
[Footnote 66: Extracted from the Vestry books of St. Andrew's, Holborn.]
[Footnote 67: Baker's _History of Northamptonshire_, vol. i. p. 17.]
[Footnote 68: "Frances, daughter of Leonard Welsted, Gent, and Frances his wife."]
[Footnote 69: 1750.]
[Footnote 70: The master was Bernard Gates.]
ORGANISTS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
NAME DATE John Howe 1549 Master Whitt 1560 John Taylor 1562 Robert White 1570 Henry Leeve 1575 Edmund Hooper, the first regular appointment as Organist 1588 John Parsons 1621 Orlando Gibbons 1623 Thomas Day 1625 Richard Portman 1633 Christopher Gibbons 1660 Albertus Bryne 1666 John Blow 1669 Henry Purcell 1680 John Blow 1695 William Croft 1708 John Robinson 1727 Benjamin Cooke 1762 Samuel Arnold 1794 Robert Cooke 1803 George Ebenezer Williams 1815 Thomas Greatorex 1819 James Turle (living)[71] 1831
MASTERS OF THE CHORISTER BOYS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
NAME DATE John Taylor 1562 Robert White 1574 Henry Leeve 1575 Edmund Hooper 1585 John Gibbs 1605
John Parsons 1613 Thomas Day 1623 Richard Portman 1633 James Trye 1637 Walter Porter 1639 Henry Purcell (senior) 1661 Christopher Gibbons 1664 Thomas Blagrave 1666 Edward Braddock 1670 John Church 1704 Bernard Gates 1740
MUSIC COPYISTS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
NAME DATE Henry Purcell (senior) 1661 Christopher Gibbons 1664 Stephen Byng 1673 Henry Purcell (junior) 1676 William Tucker 1678 Charles Taylour 1684 Henry Purcell 1688 Edward Braddock 1690 John Church 1710 John Buswell 1761 Thomas Vanderman 1763 Thomas Barrow 1782
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 71: Mr. Turle having retired from active duty, Dr. J. F. Bridge is now appointed permanent deputy organist.]
CHRONOLOGICAL MEMORANDA.
1658. Henry Purcell, the composer, born.
1659. Meeting of Purcell's father, Matthew Locke, and Pepys.
1661. Charles the Second crowned. Henry Purcell, the father, and Thomas Purcell, the uncle of the composer, attend the coronation as gentlemen of the Chapel Royal.
1663. Purcell's father appointed a member of the Royal Band.
1664. The father died. Purcell entered the Chapel Royal under Captain Cooke.
1667. Purcell's three-part song, "Sweet Tyraness," published.
1669. Purcell composed "An Address to the King."
1672. Purcell's master, Captain Cooke, died; succeeded by Pelham Humphreys.
1674. Humphreys died; succeeded by Dr. John Blow.
1676. Purcell appointed copyist of Westminster Abbey. Composed music for (1) "Epsom Wells;" (2) "Aurenge-Zebe; (3) "The Libertine."
1677. Purcell composed an Elegy on the death of Matthew Locke; also the music for "Abdelazor."
1678. Resigned the appointment of copyist at Westminster Abbey. "Sweet Tyraness," newly arranged, republished. Music for "Timon of Athens" composed.
1679. Composed music for Rev. John Gostling's voice.
1680. Appointed organist of Westminster Abbey. Composed music for (1) "The Virtuous Wife;" (2) "Theodosius;" and the Opera "Dido and Æneas." Also two Odes, "A welcome song for his Royal Highness's return from Scotland," and "A song to welcome his Majesty home from Windsor."
1681. Composed an Ode for the King, "Swifter, Isis, swifter flow."
1682. Purcell appointed organist of the Chapel Royal. Composed an Ode for the King "On his return from Newmarket;" also music for "The Lord Mayor's Show." His uncle Thomas died; a son, John Baptista, born and died.
1683. Sonatas of three parts published. Appointed "composer in ordinary" to the King. Composed three "Odes for the festival of St. Cecilia;" also "A welcome song for the King;" "Fly, bold rebellion;" and Ode, "From hardy climes," for Prince George of Denmark, on his marriage with the Princess Anne.
1684. Published a "St. Cecilia" Ode. Composed an Ode to welcome the King, "On his return to Whitehall after his summer's progress." Performed on the new organ erected by Father Smith in the Temple Church.
1685. James II. crowned in Westminster Abbey. For the ceremony Purcell composed two Anthems, "I was glad," and "My heart is inditing." Composed an Ode, "Why are all the muses mute," in honour of the King. Also the music for "Circe."
1686. Composed "Lilliburlero," also the music for "Tyrannic Love." His brother and pupil, Daniel, appointed organist of Magdalen College, Oxford. His infant son, Thomas, died. An Ode for the King, "Ye tuneful muses," composed.
1687. Composed an Elegy on the death of John Playford, the younger. An Ode for the King, "Sound the trumpet, beat the drum." Purcell's son, Henry, born and died.
1688. Purcell composed, by command, a thanksgiving Anthem for the Queen's pregnancy, "Blessed are they that fear the Lord." Composed also the music for "A fool's preferment," an Ode "For the King," and the Anthem, "The Lord is King." A daughter, Frances, born.
1689. William and Mary crowned in Westminster Abbey. Purcell threatened, by Dean and Chapter of Westminster, with suspension. Composed "Celestial music" an Ode "At the Prince of Denmark's coming home," also "The Yorkshire feast song." A son, Edward, born.
1690. Purcell composed an Ode, "Arise my muse," for the Queen's birthday, and another, "Sound the trumpet," for King William. Also music for (1) "The Tempest;" (2) "Dioclesian;" (3) "Massacre of Paris;" (4) "Amphitryon."