Funeral Sentences and Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary

Common card · No. 444456

The English composer Henry Purcell wrote funeral music that includes his Funeral Sentences and the later Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary, Z. 860. Two of the funeral sentences, "Man that is born of a woman" Z. 27 and "In the midst of life we are in death" Z. 17, survive in autograph score. The Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary comprises the March and Canzona Z. 780 and the funeral sentence "Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts" Z. 58C. It was first performed at the funeral of Queen Mary II of England in Westminster Abbey on 5 March 1695. Purcell's setting of "Thou knowest, Lord" was performed at his own funeral in November of the same year. In modern performances the March, Canzona and three funeral sentences are often combined as Purcell's Funeral Sentences, Z. 860.

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