First Was The World

Quoting Burgon: My first thought on receiving this commission was what sort of text would suit. Something on the general idea of growth - starting very small and blossoming was the obvious way to go, but it wasn’t until Ifoundthe Andrew Marvell poem Music’s Empire that I really got going. The poem is about the invention and development of music; this might sound a bit dry, but in fact it is both charming and dramatic, and it is also apt in thatit canbe set for both solo voice and chorus.

The other factor to be considered in writing this piece was the Purcell connection. Purcell wrote Come Ye Sons of Art in 1964, the year the bank was founded, and this piece isalsoincluded in the celebratory concert. So I wanted to include some homage to HP as well.

Marvell’s poem is the sort of text that Purcell might have set had he come across it. It is a sort of Ode of text that Purcell mighthaveset had he come across it. It is a sort of Ode to St Cecelia and he wrote one of those as we know. So I have referred to Purcell in two particular ways; I have quoted Come Ye sons of Art directly, and I have usedthecountertenor. Purcell himself sang countertenor in many of his own pieces, and wrote some of the most gorgeous music ever written for that voice. I also happened to love both Purcell’s music and the countertenor so writingthispiece was really a labour of love.

It is scored for countertenor, mixed chorus and symphony of orchestra - rather larger than any orchestra that Purcell had access to as far as I know, but one in which I’m sure he wouldhaverevelled in given the opportunity. It is about ten minutes in duration.