HENRY PURCELL:
Henry Purcell was born in London in 1659. At the age of 9, he was chosen as a chorister of the 'Children of the Chapel' in the Court of Charles II. Here he had an opportunity to learn and study all kinds of music and instruments. He learnt the organ from another famous Englishman, Dr John Blow, organist of Westminster Abbey. Purcell spent his whole life in London, and held many important positions in the King's service, such as Composer for the Violins, Keeper and Repairer of Instruments and Harpsichord player to James II. His compositions fell into four main categories- Church Music, Dramatic Music, Court and Occasional Music and music for Amateurs. Purcell later died in 1695 and his songs are his supreme achievement and are still recognised today.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH:
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Germany in 1685. Bach began his musical life as a choir boy and spent his whole life in Germany. Between 1708-1717, Bach was an organist in various cities and wrote a great deal of organ music. Between 1717-1723, Bach was a musical director first for a duke in Weimar and then for a prince in Cothen for whom he wrote lots of instrumental music. Between 1723-1750, He was cantor (musical director) of the Lutheran church and school of St Thomas in Leipsig and he wrote much sacred music including more than 200 cantatas. Bach later died in 1750 and he is regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time.
GEORGE FREDERIC HANDEL:
George Frederic Handel was born in Halle, Saxony in 1685. From the beginning he was keen on opera. Though his parents wanted him to be a lawyer, he found work as a violinist in the opera orchestra in Hamburg, and soon began to write opera himself. At 21, he travelled to Italy, playing the harpsichord and absorbing the Italian style composition.
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