ABSTRACT
The music of sixteenth century composers, whether Italian, English or Flemish, looks very much alike to a casual observer. It is only after a certain amount of study that the difference in aim and method in the work of William Byrd and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina becomes manifest; but not the veriest tyro could mistake Henry Purcell's music for Scarlatti's. Purcell is justly termed the glory of English music, but he is a singularly difficult composer to discuss fairly. To appreciate Purcell properly it is necessary to take a historical standpoint, to realise the difficulties with which he had to contend, the lack of sympathy which he found in his contemporaries, and the meagre materials with which he had to work. So far as sheer invention goes, Purcell must rank with the greatest composers of all time. Purcell's work falls naturally into three main divisions: his church music, his theatre music, and his instrumental works.
