King Arthur

King Arthur. (Opera Vocal Score) ** By Henry Purcell (1659-1695). For Opera (Vocal Score). Music Sales America. Baroque, Opera. 76 pages. Novello & Co Ltd. #NOV070418. Published by Novello & Co Ltd.

King Arthur was the only one of Purcells professionally produced operas to have been designed as a semi-opera; the others were all adaptations of earlier plays. Dryden made a real attempt to integrate the music into the drama, but since he ascribed to the dramatic conventions of the period which virtually confined music to allegorical or supernatural beings and their worshippers, or servants, shepherds and similar characters, the main action mostly occurs in the spoken sections, and even the two singing characters, Philidel and Grimbald speak more than they sing.

Contents: Brave Souls * Come If You Dare * Come, Follow Me * Come, Shepherds * Fairest Isle * For Love Evry Creature * Great Love * Hither, This Way * How Blest Are Shepherds * How Happy The Lover * I Call * Let Not A Moonborn Elf * No Part Of My Dominion * Our Natives Not Alone Appear * Recitative, the White Horse Neighd * Recitative, woden First To Thee * Round Thy Coast * Saint George * See, See, We Assemble * Shepherd, Shepherd, Leave Decoying * Sound A Parley * The Lot Is Cast * Thou Doting Fool * tis I That Have Warmd Ye * To Woden Thanks We Render * Two Daughters Of This Aged Stream * What Ho! Thou Genius * What Power Art Thou * Ye Blustring Brethren * You Say Tis Love * Your Hay It Is Mowd.