Motet Notes

Henry Purcell: "Thou Knowest, Lord" from Funeral Anthem for Queen Mary, Z27

Excerpted from The Funeral Sentences, the text of today’s motet comes from the Burial Service in the Book of Common Prayer. Purcell responds to the emotional content of these texts with numerous madrigalian effects. Note the extraordinary word painting and chromaticism of its text inspired by "the bitter pains of eternal death."

© Ryan Turner