Daniel Purcell : a biography and thematic catalogue

Thesis

Daniel Purcell (c.1670-1717) was a musician, composer, socialite and punster. He was a child in the choir of the Chapel Royal, organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, and composer-in-residence at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. His output was prolific, consisting of music for some fifty plays, as well as many anthems, cantatas, songs, odes, and instrumental sonatas.

Of Daniel’s works, it is probably the theatre music which is most of interest, ranging from single songs for sometimes ill-fated productions to whole ‘Purcellian’ dramatick operas such as The Island Princess (Motteux, 1699), and The Grove, or Love’s Paradise (Oldmixon, 1700). His cantatas ‘after the Italian Manner’ (1713) were some of the first examples of their style in the English language, and, whilst he held no official appointment, his composition of odes for Princess (later Queen) Anne, and various other members of the Royal family, show his close connections with court life.

This study is in two parts. First, a thorough biographical study uncovers a number of documents which shed much light on Daniel Purcell’s life, and reopens the debate of the genealogy of the whole Purcell family. The London theatrical scene after the death of Henry Purcell is examined in detail, and Daniel’s compositions are placed in their historical perspective. Second, a comprehensive thematic catalogue of his works includes multi-stave incipits for each movement of each piece which Daniel wrote, listing every printed and manuscript source in which the music is found. This catalogue is intended to be a starting point for scholars wishing to study the music of this period in general, and of Daniel Purcell in particular.

Authors: Humphreys, MA

• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: thematic; Purcell; catalogue; Daniel; catalog; catalogues; biography; catalogs
• Subjects: Purcell, Daniel, -1717; Purcell, Daniel, -1717 -- Catalogs