Henry Purcell (1659-1695) – Adagio from Sonata in G minor – Z807

Henry Purcell was an English composer. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers; no later native-born English composer approached his fame until Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten in the 20th century.

Purcell is said to have been composing at nine years old, but the earliest work that can be certainly identified as his is an ode for the King’s birthday, written in 1670. It is assumed that the three-part song Sweet tyranness, I now resign was written by him as a child. Henry Purcell’s earliest anthem Lord, who can tell was composed in 1678. It is a psalm that is prescribed for Christmas Day and also to be read at morning prayer on the fourth day of the month.

This piece was written around 1680 and is part of a suite of ten sonatas.