PURCELL Music For The Funeral Of Queen Mary

Henry Purcell's music for the Funeral of Queen Mary was written for the March 1695 funeral of Queen Mary II, and sets a text taken from the Book of Common Prayer, the standard service book of the Church of England. Scored for SATB chorus, four trumpets and basso continuo, it employs chromaticism to a degree that was unusual in English music of the time, and shows Purcell at his simplest and most moving, almost note-against-note without contrapuntal elaboration, unfolding with dignity and pathos. (Edward C. Yong)

0:00 Applause
0:30 The March for Queen Mary, sounded before her Chariot
3:00 I. Man that is born of a woman
5:34 Canzona
7:32 II. In the midst of life we are in death
11:25 Canzona
12:28 III. Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts
14:28 March

Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Sofi Jeannin, conductor
Stefan Kiesling, organ/continuo organ
Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director

Recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall, 6 October 2018.