The Great Musicians: Purcell

"The Great Musicians: Purcell" by William Hayman Cummings is a biography that unfolds the story of Henry Purcell, a significant English composer, against the backdrop of a changing England. The book navigates the reader through the hard times musicians faced, particularly during a period when music was not always valued. Cummings guides the reader through Purcell's early training and family history illustrating the social and cultural hurdles he overcame. It's a historical walkthrough of the growth of English music as seen through the life and works of one of its brightest stars, while critiquing the work of others.