Henry Purcell (1659-1695): The Complete Works for Harpsichord

00:00 A New Scotch Tune Z.655
01:25 A New Ground Z.T.682
02:59 Sefauchi´s Farewell Z.656
05:03 Minuet Z.T.688
06:00 Suite of Lessons Z.665: Prelude - Almand - Saraband - Jigg
10:27 March Z.T.687
11:41 Jigg Z.T.686
12:26 Air Z.641
13:55 Aire Z.T.675 (696/1)
16:30 Minuet Z.T.696/2
18:02 Air Z.T.692
19:42 Canary Z.T.677
20:34 Ground Z.D.622
22:53 Hornpipe Z.T.683
23:31 Hornpipe Z.T.685
24:11 Minuet Z.651
25:22 Saraband with division Z.654
26:47 Song Tune Z.T.694
27:50 New Minuet Z.T.689
28:42 Minuet Z.649
29:32 Suite No 1 in G major Z.660: Prelude - Almand - Corant - Minuet
33:20 Suite No 2 in G minor Z.661: Prelude - Almand - Corant - Saraband
42:46 March Z.647
43:43 March Z.648
44:38 A New Irish Tune (Lilliburlero) Z.646
45:21 Riggadoon Z.653
46:05 March Z.T.687
47:26 Trumpet Tune Z.T.698
48:08 Chacone Z.T.680
50:55 Trumpet Tune (called The Cibell) Z.T.678
52:12 Trumpet Tune Z.T.697
52:55 Air Z.T.676
54:07 Air Z.T.693
56:03 Air Z.T.630/1
57:27 Ground in gamut Z.645
59:32 Ground Z.T.681
1:02:05 Round-O Z.T.684
1:03:23 Ground Z.D.221
1:05:51 Trumpet Minuet Z.D.220
1:06:37 The Queen´s Dolour Z.670
1:08:11 Suite No 3 in G major Z.662: Prelude - Almand - (Corant)
1:15:05 Suite No 4 in A minor Z.663: Prelude - Almand - Corant
1:20:47 Suite No 5 in C major Z.664: Prelude - Almand - Corant - Saraband
1:27:38 Suite No 6 in D major Z.665: Prelude - Almand - Hornpipe
1:32:51 Suite No 7 in D minor Z.666: Almand (Bell-barr) - Corant - Hornpipe
1:39:51 Suite No 8 in F major Z.667: Prelude - Almand - Corant - Minuet

Gerald Ranck: Harpsichord by Eric Herz, Cambridge, Mass. 1964

The present recording comprises all of Purcell’s music for solo harpsichord, and includes several pieces termed “doubtful” in the presently accepted, definitive thematic catalogue of Purcell’s music compiled by Prof. Franklin B. Zimmermann (Macmillan: London, 1963). The edition used for this recording was prepared by Howard Ferguson, and was published by Stainer and Bell, London: 1968.

A substantial number of Purcell’s harpsichord works are transcriptions which he made from either his operatic or orchestral works: indeed, even the operatic transcriptions are seldom vocal. But the quality of the transcriptions is exceptional. Here follows a list of those transcriptions and their original sources:

1) Z.T.689: A New Minuet: an arrangement of the song ‘Who cannot resist such mighty charms?” from ‘Timon of Athens.” NB: Ferguson considers this to be a mistaken listing by Prof. Zimmermann
2) Z.T.682: “A New Ground”: Aria, “Here the Dieties Approve’ from ‘Welcome to all the pleasures’’ (the shorter “Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day,” Z.339/3)
3) Z.T.688: “Minuet”: Ritornello for 2 violins and continuo from “Raise the voice,” Z.334/6
4) Z.T. 687: “March”: from “The Married Beau,” Z.603/8
5) Z.T.698: “Trumpet Tune”: from “The Indian Queen,” Z.630/4a
6) Z.T.686: ‘Jig’: from “Abdelazer," Z.570/7
7) Z.T.680: Chacone: The Curtain Tune for Strings from “Timon of Athens,” Z.632/20.
8) Z.T.697: “Trumpet Tune’: The Trumpet Tune for 2 trumpets and bass from ‘‘Dioclesian,” Z.627/21
9) Z.T.675: ‘Aire’: Air for strings from “The Indian Queen,” Z.630/22
10) Z.630/1: ‘Air’: The first music air for strings from “The Indian Queen,” Z.630/1
11) Z.T.676: “Aire”: Minuet for Strings from “The Double Dealer,’ Z 592/7
12) Z.T.693/2: ‘Air’: Air for strings from “Abdelazer,” Z 570/6
13) Z.T.677: “Canary”: Third Act tune from “The Indian Queen,” Z 630/16
14) Z.T.681: “Ground”: Alto solo: “With him he brings the partner”: from ‘Ye Tuneful Muses,” Z.344/11
15) Z.T.683: “Hornpipe’: Hornpipe for strings from “Abdelazer,” Z.570/8
16) Z.T.685: “Hornpipe”: Hornpipe for strings from ‘‘The Old Bachelor,” Z.607/4
17) Z.T.684: “‘Round-O”: Rondeau for Strings from ‘‘Abdelazer,”’ Z.570/2 (employed by Benjamin Britten in his ‘Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Purcell,” or as is better known, “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.”’)

Doubtful or Spurious Pieces (acc. Zimmermann):
1) Z.D.221: “Ground”: probably by William Croft
2) Z.D.230: “Trumpet Minuet’: probably by Jeremiah Clarke
3) Z.670: “The Queen’s Dolour”’: doubtful, no other composer suggested

Z.T = transcription.
Z.D = doubtful.