H. Purcell. A Collection of Ayres, 1697

Purcell, Henry

A Collection of Ayres, Compos'd For the Theatre, and upon other Occasions. By the late Mr. Henry Purcell [parts], London: by J. Heptinstall for Frances Purcell, 1697

FIRST EDITION, complete parts (violino primo and secundo, tennor and bassus), 48, 48, 40 and 40 pages (the pagination of pp. 37-40 of the first volume misnumbered), (c.31.7 x 20.2cm), type-set music and text, woodcut vignettes, various probably contemporary annotations (including the restoration of some omitted bars) as well as some modern pencil annotations, Dolmetsch Library stamp and pencil shelfmark ("II E 22, 1 [-4]") to verso of titles, later blue wrappers, the original titles on which covered over with blue paper, title of violino primo part laid down, some paginations cropped, upper wrapper and some pages of violino primo part torn and frayed, spines of wrappers strengthened with brown paper, some staining and browning

RARE. We have not traced a copy of this work at auction during the last thirty years.

Purcell composed music for over 40 plays, a fairly representative amount of which was published a year or so after his untimely death at the age of 36 in the present Collection of Ayres. Possibly the editing work of Purcell's younger brother (or cousin) Daniel, it is comprised of thirteen suites of select movements from the following plays and semi-operas: Dioclesian, King Arthur, The Fairy Queen, The Indian Queen, The Married Beau, The Old Bachelor, Amphytron, The Double Dealer, Distressed Innocence, The Gordian Knot Untied, Abdelazer, Bonduca, and The Virtuous Wife. A notable concert of Purcell's music was given by Arnold Dolmetsch on 20 December 1895 in the Portman Rooms, Baker Street.

LITERATURE:

RISM P 5977 and PP 5977