Books by Henry Purcell

Purcell was the outstanding musician and composer of his time in Britain. Like other seventeenth-century musicians, Purcell's career began in the church, first as a chorister at the Chapel Royal, then as organist at Westminster Abbey composing anthems. At court he enjoyed the favour of successive monarchs composing odes on special occasions, but his works for Mary II are the best known, composed when Purcell was reaching the height of his powers, just before his premature death. Martin Setchell is an international concert organist who promotes entertaining organ music to a wide audience. Born and educated in England, he is based in New Zealand, as curator of the Rieger organ in Christchurch Town Hall, and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Canterbury. He regularly performs throughout the world, including tours in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Japan. He has recorded several CDs, including A Taste of Shropshire, the highly successful Bonbons for Organ series, and Pink and White, an anthology of New Zealand organ music. Martin is often heard on BBC radio's The Organist Entertains, the USA's Pipe Dreams, and Radio New Zealand's concert programme. He has arranged Faure, Bizet, and Sousa (Kevin Mayhew Music), and edited OUP's A Saint-Saens Organ Album. He holds a Civic Award from the City of Christchurch for services to music in the community and the Town Hall organ in particular.