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Compositional Artifice in the Music of Henry Purcell
About This Book
Fugal invention has proved a successful line of analytical inquiry in recent studies of repertoires from Josquin to J. S. Bach. Alan Howard brings similar insights to the music of Henry Purcell, and proposes the first analytical approach to his music to examine compositional methods alongside historically contemporary theory, focusing particularly on Purcell's 'artificial' approach to imitative counterpoint. Through this methodology Howard challenges previous responses to Purcell's music that portrayed him as fundamentally conservative. This study offers fresh insights into the musical world in which Purcell lived and worked and situates Purcell's compositional concerns in the broader context of notions of artifice in Restoration culture. Howard thereby offers both a fresh analytical approach - to Purcell's early instrumental works and to his later concerted vocal music - and a critique of the reception history surrounding the fantazias and sonatas in particular.
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Half-title page
- Series page
- Title page
- Copyright page
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- List of Music Examples
- Acknowledgements
- Note on Music Examples
- List of Abbreviations
- Glossary of Analytical Terms
- References
- Introduction
- Part I Purcell’s ‘Art of Descant’
- Part II ‘Thou dost thy former skill improve’
- Bibliography
- Index of Compositions
- General Index