Sunday, July 3, 2016

Henry Purcell - Overture to The Fairy Queen

On this day, the Queen Of The World was born.  People were so happy that they celebrated with fireworks the following day.*

And so we need music worthy of this Royal day. Henry Purcell adapted Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream into a demi-opera.  This piece is disturbingly appropriate to this day: today is the mid point of the year; the music is about a Queen; the Queen was going to marry a donkey (ahem!).

And so if you were to hoist a toast to the Queen (or even launch some fireworks), she will smile her royal smile in thanks.



* This is the origin of the moniker "Queen Of The World".  She told this to her kids when they were growing up.

5 comments:

Home on the Range said...

Happy Birthday to the Queen!

Hat Trick said...

Happy Birthday to the Queen!

Hat Trick said...

Happy Birthday to the Queen!

libertyman said...

Happy Birthday to the QOTW.

Another informative music class, by the way!

Many thanks.

Mrs. Bitchpatch #1 said...

She may be Queen of the world, but I apparently still own the Mrs. Borepatch moniker. She is welcome to it.