Come Ye Sons of Art
Ode for the birthday of Queen Mary, 1694
Soloists: soprano, two altos (countertenors), bass
Chorus (SATB)
Orchestra: 2 recorders, 2 oboes, 2 trumpets, timpani, strings, continuo
Program Notes by Martin Pearlman
Come Ye Sons of Art, first performed on April 30, 1694, is the last and greatest of the six birthday odes that Purcell wrote for Queen Mary, the wife of William III. As happened with a number of his works, he was given an uninspired and somewhat awkward poem written for the occasion by an unknown poet, but his tuneful setting with its rhythmic vitality, bright trumpets and sensitive treatment of text has nonetheless made it one of his most popular pieces.
When Purcell died in 1695 at the age of 36, one year after composing this ode, he was at the height of his powers. England did not find a native composer of comparable stature to take his place. As a result, many of the leading composers of the coming century were foreign born, bringing with them the latest in Italian styles. Among them were Handel and Johann Christian Bach.
Boston Baroque Performances
Come Ye Sons of Art
January 1, 1987
Sanders Theater, Cambridge, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Sharon Baker, soprano
Jeffrey Gall, countertenor
Kenneth Fitch, countertenor
Sanford Sylvan, baritone
October 10, 1980
NEC’s Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Soloists:
Susan Larson, soprano
Jeffrey Gall, countertenor
Karl Dan Sorensen, tenor
James Maddalena, baritone