Renowned for the originality of his music and his gifts as a melodist,
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) was the preeminent English composer of the
seventeenth century and one of the greatest that nation has ever
produced. His gifts are apparent not only in the vocal and orchestral
works on which his fame rests, but in his delightful keyboard music,
much of which is relatively simple and easy to perform. This volume is a
near-complete collection of Purcell's keyboard compositions, including
the eight suites, the core of his keyboard works. Also included are many
miscellaneous one-movement pieces: airs, trumpet tunes (for harpsichord
solo), grounds, preludes, dances, etc.
Piano students and pianists of intermediate skills will enjoy these
pieces for their charm and accessibility. Gathered here in one
convenient, inexpensive volume, they offer a treasury of time-honored
music that musicians and music lovers will turn to again and again.
This volume has been edited with a preface by the noted music scholar
William Barclay Squire.