Name: Doctoral Symposium
Start: 2025-11-07T14:00:00
Location: Royal Academy of Music

Royal Academy of Music

Henry Purcell’s gift for setting English words to music shines in the moving and emotional anthem ‘Let mine eyes run down with tears’. In contrast, the powerful ‘Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei’, a Latin psalm setting, features a bold bass solo, probably written for a favoured singer at the court of Charles II, John Gostling.

And Again I Say, Rejoice

Henry Purcell’s sacred works are paired with ones by his predecessors, offering a rich portrait of church music in transition. Purcell crafted music for Anglican liturgy that, though less elaborate than his symphony anthems, is no less dazzling.

Here The Deities Approve

Sir Walter Raleigh’s poem is the inspiration for this anniversary programme featuring the music of two great composers who died within a year of each other: Orlando Gibbons and John Dowland. The infectious joy of Gibbons’ counterpoint is perfectly matched by Dowland’s forthright and eloquent writing of solo ayres and part-songs. Extracts from Dowland’s monumental collection Lachrimae, or Seven Teares complete the programme.

A Play Of Passion

Purcell’s enchanting King Arthur is a semi-opera on a grand scale, following pagan Saxons, victorious Britons and flirtatious nymphs and shepherds, with scenes ranging from frozen terrains to lively woodlands.

Fairest Isle

The Academy’s doctoral programme provides a collaborative environment for musicians to share and critique working practices, and a framework for developing long-term projects that will drive distinctive careers. It also offers a research and development engine for the Academy’s taught programmes.