name	City of Westminster
short name	Westminster
imagename	LondonWestminster.svg
status	London borough, City
area km2	21.48
area rank	346th
ons code	00BK
adminhq	City Hall, Victoria Street
url	http://www.westminster.gov.uk/
leadership	Leader & Cabinet
mayor	Cllr Susie Burbridge
mps	Karen Buck (Lab) Mark Field (Con)
gla constituency	West Central London
gla member	Kit Malthouse (Con)
local authority	Westminster City Council
postcode areas	, , ,
dial codes	020
mayor title	Lord Mayor }}

The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary is the River Thames. It is an Inner London borough and was created in 1965 when Greater London was established. At its creation Westminster was awarded city status, which had been previously held by the smaller Metropolitan Borough of Westminster. Aside from a number of large parks and open spaces, the population density of the district is high. Many sites commonly associated with London are located in the borough, including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and 10 Downing Street. The borough is divided into a number of localities including the ancient political district of Westminster around the Palace of Westminster; the shopping areas around Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Bond Street; and the night time entertainment district of Soho. Much of the borough is residential, and in 2008 it was estimated to have a population of 236,000. The local authority is Westminster City Council.

History[link]

The origins of the City of Westminster pre-date the Norman Conquest of England. In the mid-11th Century king Edward the Confessor began the construction of an abbey at Westminster, only the foundations of which survive today. Between the abbey and the river he built a palace, thereby guaranteeing that the seat of Government would be fixed at Westminster, and inevitably drawing power and wealth west out of the old City of London.

For centuries the City of Westminster and the City of London were geographically quite distinct. It was not until the sixteenth century that urban sprawl began to build over the adjoining fields, eventually taking over nearby villages such as Marylebone and Kensington, and gradually creating the vast Greater London that exists today.

The present-day City of Westminster as an administrative entity with its present boundaries dates from 1965, when the City of Westminster was created from the former area of three metropolitan boroughs: St Marylebone, Paddington, and the smaller Metropolitan Borough of Westminster, which included Soho, Mayfair, St. James's, The Strand, Westminster, Pimlico, Belgravia, and Hyde Park. This re-structuring took place under the London Government Act 1963, which significantly reduced the number of local government districts in London, resulting in local authorities responsible for larger geographical areas and greater populations.

The Westminster Metropolitan Borough was itself the result of an administrative amalgamation which took place in 1900. Prior to 1900, the area occupied by what would become the Metropolitan Borough of Westminster had been administered by five separate local bodies: the Vestry of St George Hanover Square, the Vestry of St Martin in the Fields, Strand District Board of Works, Westminster District Board of Works and the Vestry of Westminster St James.

The boundaries of the City of Westminster today, as well as those of the other London boroughs, have remained more or less unchanged since the Act of 1963.

Demography[link]

According to the 2001 census, the city had a population of 181,279. Westminster City Council undertook several studies, supported by both political parties on the council, that indicated that this figure was too low. The Office for National Statistics eventually added 17,500 people to Westminster's population, increasing its grant from the United Kingdom Government. The official population is now 198,779, but some estimates put it at 220,000. Approximately 71% of the population is White (British: 49.0%, Irish: 2.0%, and Other White: 19.0%), 16% are of any Asian ethnicity, 7% Black, 6% Mixed, and 4% belong to other racial groups. About 35% of households are occupied by their owners.

Governance[link]

The city is divided into 20 wards, each electing 3 councillors. Westminster City Council is currently composed of 48 Conservative Party members and 12 Labour Party members.

Evolution of Parliamentary representation
! 1918	! 1950	! 1974	! 1979	! 1997	! 2010

Districts[link]

The City of Westminster covers all or part of the following areas of London:

Economy[link]

The City of Westminster is home to a large number of companies. Many leading global corporations have chosen to locate their global or European headquarters in the City of Westminster. Mayfair and St. James's within the City of Westminster also have a large concentration of hedge fund and private equity funds. The West End is known as the Theatre District and is home to many of the leading performing arts businesses. Soho and its adjoining areas house a concentration of media and creative companies. Oxford Street is one of the leading shopping destinations in the world. The list of companies includes

BAE Systems has its head office in Westminster BBC has its head office in the Broadcasting House BP has its global headquarters in St. James's, Westminster. Houlihan Lokey, the international investment bank, has its London offices at 83 Pall Mall, London, Westminster. Pearson PLC and subsidiary Penguin Group: headquartered in a facility in Westminster. Rio Tinto Group, a multinational Australian-British company, has its UK head office in Westminster. Economist Group, publisher of ''The Economist'' and other materials, is headquartered in Westminster. Kingfisher plc has its head office in Paddington, Westminster SABMiller has its head office in Westminster. British American Tobacco has its head office in the Globe House in the City of Westminster. Marks & Spencer has its head office in the Waterside House. Swire Group has its head office in the Swire House Pret a Manger has its head office in Westminster. Rolls-Royce Group has its head office in Westminster. Global Infrastructure Partners has an office in Westminster. EasyGroup has its head office in Mayfair, City of Westminster. Gulf Oil International has its head office in the city. AstraZeneca has its head office in Westminster. Informa has its London office, including its Investor Relations and Media Centre departments, in the Informa House Petrofac possesses an office on Jermyn Street, near Oxford Circus. Northrop Grumman has its UK offices in Clareville House. Korean Air has its European head office in the City of Westminster. Iraqi Airways has its London sales office in the IKB House in City of Westminster.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London is located in Westminster.

Companies that previously had their head offices in the City of Westminster include British Aircraft Corporation, British Midland (Portland House), British United Airways, British Mediterranean Airways, Cadbury, Diageo, BAA Limited, Lloyd International Airways, and P&O; Princess Cruises. In addition, Iran Air previously had its Picadilly main sales office in the city.

Landmarks [link]

Westminster contains many of the most famous sites in London. Some of the popular tourist sites are Buckingham Palace, Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) and Big Ben and nearby Westminster Abbey.

Parks and open spaces [link]

These include Green Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regent's Park and St. James's Park. In addition to parks and open spaces within the borough, the City owns and maintains East Finchley Cemetery and crematorium in the London Borough of Barnet.

Transport [link]

Bridges [link]

These include Chelsea Bridge, Hungerford Bridge, Grosvenor Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and Westminster Bridge.

National Rail stations [link]

Stations include: London Charing Cross, London Marylebone, London Paddington and London Victoria these are all main London termini stations.

London Underground [link]

The City of Westminster is served by 27 tube stations, and 10 of the 11 Underground lines (the Waterloo and City line is the exception).

Electric charging points [link]

Westminster City Council now has electric vehicle charging points in 15 locations through the city (13 car parks and two on-street points). Users pay an annual fee to cover administration costs to register and use the points.

==Education== Westminster Children's Services operates many community primary and secondary schools. In addition, several voluntary-aided Church of England (CE), Roman Catholic (RC), and Christian non-denominational (ND) schools are in the city.

Universities and colleges[link]

Strand campus of King's College London.

University of the Arts London site the London College of Fashion on Davies Street.

London Business School is located in Regent's Park.

London School of Economics is located at Clare Market, near Aldwych.

School of Advanced Study is located near Russell Square.

Royal Academy of Music is located on Marylebone Road.

University of the Arts London has constituent colleges in Holborn (CSM) and Millbank (Chelsea).

University of Westminster is located on three campuses in the borough.

Brigham Young University London Centre is located on Palace Court.

The northern half of Imperial College London's main South Kensington campus lies within the borough.

City of Westminster College is a further education college with campuses on Paddington Green and at Queens Park. It also owns the Cockpit Theatre, which is used as a training and performance venue.

Regent's College, whose campus is within the grounds of Regent's Park, which houses: European Business School London; Regent's American College London; Regent's Business School; School of Psychotherapy and Counselling; Webster Graduate School; Internexus, a provider of English language courses.

Westminster Kingsway College is a further education college with centres in Soho and Victoria in Westminster. It also has centres in Camden.

Public libraries[link]

The London Library, an independent lending library, is located at 14 St. James Square in the City of Westminster.

The city operates one reference library, the Westminster Reference Library. City-operated public lending libraries in Westminster include: Charing Cross Library, Church Street Library, the Maida Vale Library, Marylebone Library, Mayfair Library, Paddington Library, Pimlico Library, Queen's Park Library, St. John's Wood Library, Victoria Library. In addition the city has two specialist libraries, the Westminster Music Library, the largest music library in the United Kingdom, and the Westminster Chinese Library in the Charing Cross Library.

International relations[link]

Twin towns - sister cities[link]

Sylhet, Bangladesh

Gallery[link]

See also [link]

History of local government in London

History of London

London Government Act 1963

London Underground

River Westbourne

Westminster

Westminster City Council

Westminster St Margaret and St John

References[link]

Gray, Robert, ''A History of London'', Hutchinson & Co, London, 1978, ISBN 0-09-133140-4

Notes[link]

External links[link]

City of Westminster

Westminster, by Sir Walter Besant and Geraldine Edith Mitton and A. Murray Smith, 1902, from Project Gutenberg

Westminster City Council YouTube channel

Westminster Westminster Category:Articles including recorded pronunciations (UK English) Category:UK locations with ethnic minority-majority populations Westminster Category:1965 establishments in the United Kingdom

bg:Уестминстър (район в Лондон) ca:Ciutat de Westminster cs:Westminster (londýnský obvod) cy:Dinas San Steffan da:City of Westminster de:City of Westminster et:Westminster es:Ciudad de Westminster eu:Westminster Hiria fa:وستمینستر fr:Cité de Westminster ga:Cathair Westminster gl:Cidade de Westminster ko:시티오브웨스트민스터 hi:सिटी ऑफ़ वेस्टमिंस्टर is:Westminsterborg it:Città di Westminster he:הסיטי של וסטמינסטר la:Westmonasterium mk:Вестминстер (град) mr:वेस्टमिन्स्टर nl:City of Westminster ja:シティ・オブ・ウェストミンスター no:City of Westminster nn:City of Westminster pnb:ویسٹمنسٹر pl:City of Westminster pt:Cidade de Westminster ro:City of Westminster ru:Вестминстер (боро) sco:Ceety o Wastmeenster simple:City of Westminster sk:City of Westminster sv:City of Westminster ta:வெஸ்ட்மின்ஸ்டர் நகரம் th:นครเวสต์มินสเตอร์ ug:Wéstminstér Shehiri vi:Thành phố Westminster war:Westminster (syudad) yi:סיטי פון וועסטמינסטער zh:西敏市

Westminster () is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross. It has a large concentration of London's historic and prestigious landmarks and visitor attractions, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Westminster Cathedral.

Historically a part of Middlesex, the name ''Westminster'' was the ancient description for the area around Westminster Abbey – the West Minster, or monastery church, that gave the area its name – which has been the seat of the government of England (and later the British government) for almost a thousand years. Westminster is the location of the Palace of Westminster, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which houses the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Toponomy[link]

The name Westminster describes the area around Westminster Abbey and Palace of Westminster. Its name derives from the West Minster, or monastery church, west of the City of London's St Paul's. The area has been the seat of the government of England for almost a thousand years. The name is also used for the larger City of Westminster which covers a wider geographical area; and, since 1965, has included the former boroughs of Marylebone and Paddington.

"Westminster" is thus often used as a metonym for Parliament and the political community of the United Kingdom generally. The civil service is similarly referred to by the area it inhabits, "Whitehall", and "Westminster" is consequently also used in reference to the Westminster System, the parliamentary model of democratic government that has evolved in the United Kingdom. The Westminster System is used with some adaptation in many other nations, particularly in the Commonwealth of Nations and other parts of the former British Empire.

The term ''Westminster Village'', sometimes used in the context of British politics, does not refer to a geographical area at all; employed especially in the phrase ''Westminster Village gossip'', it denotes a supposedly close social circle of Members of Parliament, political journalists, so-called spin doctors and others connected to events in the Palace of Westminster.

History[link]

The historic core of Westminster is the former Thorney Island on which Westminster Abbey was built. The Abbey became the traditional venue of the coronation of the kings and queens of England. The nearby Palace of Westminster came to be the principal royal residence after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and later housed the developing Parliament and law courts of England. It can be said that London thus has developed two distinct focal points: an economic one in the City of London; and a political and cultural one in Westminster, where the Royal Court had its home. This division is still very apparent today.

The monarchy later moved to the Palace of Whitehall a little towards the north-east. The law courts have since moved to the Royal Courts of Justice, close to the border of the City of London. The area is still the centre of government, with Parliament now located in the Palace of Westminster and most of the major Government ministries situated in Westminster, centred on Whitehall. Close to the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey is Westminster School, one of the English public schools. Three of the four campuses of the University of Westminster are within the greater London borough of the City of Westminster, although none in the ancient area of Westminster.

The area has a substantial residential population, a surprisingly large proportion of which is a traditional London working class community living in council and Peabody Trust estates at the back of Westminster Abbey and off Millbank.

References[link]

;Notes ;Bibliography

Manchee, W. H. (1924), ''The Westminster City Fathers (the Burgess Court of Westminster) 1585–1901: Being some account of their powers and domestic rule of the City prior to its incorporation in 1901''; with a foreword by Walter G. Bell and 36 illustrations which relate to documents (some pull-outs) and artefacts. London: John Lane (The Bodley Head).

Davies, E. A. (1952), ''An Account of the Formation and Early Years of The Westminster Fire Office''; (Includes black-and-white photographic plates with a colour frontispiece of 'A Waterman' and a foreword by Major K. M. Beaumont. London: Country Life Limited for the Westminster Fire Office.

Hunting, P. (1981), ''Royal Westminster''. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Printed by Penshurst Press. ISBN 0-85406-127-4 (paper); ISBN 0-85406-128-2 (cased).

External links[link]

Westminster Borough Council

Westminster Walks - from Findlay Muirhead's 1927 guidebook to ''London and its Environs''

Westminster, by Sir Walter Besant and Geraldine Edith Mitton and A. Murray Smith, 1902, from Project Gutenberg

Palmer's Village, a deserted village in Westminster

Category:Districts of Westminster Category:Districts of London Category:Market towns in London Category:Districts of London on the River Thames

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Henry Purcell (; 10 September 1659 (?)– 21 November 1695), was an English composer. Although incorporating Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, Purcell's legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers; no other native-born English composer approached his fame until Edward Elgar.

Early life and career[link]

Purcell was born in St Ann's Lane Old Pye Street, Westminster. Henry Purcell Senior, whose older brother Thomas Purcell (d. 1682) was also a musician, was a gentleman of the Chapel Royal and sang at the coronation of King Charles II of England. Henry the elder had three sons: Edward, Henry and Daniel. Daniel Purcell (d. 1717), the youngest of the brothers, was also a prolific composer who wrote the music for much of the final act of ''The Indian Queen'' after Henry Purcell's death. Henry Purcell's family lived just a few hundred yards west of Westminster Abbey from the year 1659 and onward.

After his father's death in 1664, Purcell was placed under the guardianship of his uncle who showed him great affection and kindness. Thomas was himself a gentleman of His Majesty's chapel, and arranged for Henry to be admitted as a chorister. Henry studied first under Captain Henry Cooke (d. 1672), Master of the Children, and afterwards under Pelham Humfrey (d. 1674), Cooke's successor. Henry was a chorister in the Chapel Royal until his voice broke in 1673, when he became assistant to the organ-builder John Hingston, who held the post of keeper of wind instruments to the King. (The dates for his compositions are often uncertain, despite considerable research.) It is assumed that the three-part song "Sweet tyranness, I now resign" was written by him as a child.

In 1679, he wrote some songs for John Playford's ''Choice Ayres, Songs and Dialogues'' and also an anthem, the name of which is not known, for the Chapel Royal. From a letter written by Thomas Purcell, and still extant, we learn that this anthem was composed for the exceptionally fine voice of the Rev. John Gostling, then at Canterbury, but afterwards a gentleman of His Majesty's chapel. Purcell wrote several anthems at different times for Gostling's extraordinary basso profondo voice, which is known to have had a range of at least two full octaves, from D below the bass staff to the D above it. The dates of very few of these sacred compositions are known; perhaps the most notable example is the anthem "They that go down to the sea in ships." In gratitude for the providential escape of King Charles II from shipwreck, Gostling, who had been of the royal party, put together some verses from the Psalms in the form of an anthem and requested Purcell to set them to music. The work is a very difficult one, opening with a passage which traverses the full extent of Gostling's range, beginning on the upper D and descending two octaves to the lower.

Later career and death[link]

In 1679, Blow, who had been appointed organist of Westminster Abbey in 1669, resigned his office in favour of his pupil. Purcell now devoted himself almost entirely to the composition of sacred music, and for six years severed his connection with the theatre. However, during the early part of the year, probably before taking up his new office, he had produced two important works for the stage, the music for Nathaniel Lee's ''Theodosius'', and Thomas d'Urfey's ''Virtuous Wife''. Between 1680 and 1688 Purcell wrote music for seven plays. The composition of his chamber opera ''Dido and Aeneas'', which forms a very important landmark in the history of English dramatic music, has been attributed to this period, and its earliest production may well have predated the documented one of 1689. It was written to a libretto furnished by Nahum Tate, and performed in 1689 in cooperation with Josias Priest, a dancing master and the choreographer for the Dorset Garden Theatre. Priest's wife kept a boarding school for young gentlewomen, first in Leicester Fields and afterwards at Chelsea, where the opera was performed. It is occasionally considered the first genuine English opera, though that title is usually given to Blow's ''Venus and Adonis'': as in Blow's work, the action does not progress in spoken dialogue but in Italian-style recitative. Both works run to less than one hour. At the time ''Dido and Aeneas'' never found its way to the theatre, though it appears to have been very popular in private circles. It is believed to have been extensively copied, but only one song was printed by Purcell's widow in ''Orpheus Britannicus'', and the complete work remained in manuscript until 1840, when it was printed by the Musical Antiquarian Society under the editorship of Sir George Macfarren. The composition of ''Dido and Aeneas'' gave Purcell his first chance to write a sustained musical setting of a dramatic text. It was his only opportunity to compose a work in which the music carried the entire drama.

Soon after Purcell's marriage, in 1682, on the death of Edward Lowe, he was appointed organist of the Chapel Royal, an office which he was able to hold simultaneously with his position at Westminster Abbey. His eldest son was born in this same year, but his life was short lived. His first printed composition, ''Twelve Sonatas'', was published in 1683. For some years after this, he was busy in the production of sacred music, odes addressed to the king and royal family, and other similar works. In 1685, he wrote two of his finest anthems, "I was glad" and "My heart is inditing", for the coronation of King James II.

In 1687, he resumed his connection with the theatre by furnishing the music for Dryden's tragedy, ''Tyrannick Love''. In this year, Purcell also composed a march and quick-step, which became so popular that Lord Wharton adapted the latter to the fatal verses of ''Lillibullero''; and in or before January 1688, he composed his anthem "Blessed are they that fear the Lord" by express command of the King. A few months later, he wrote the music for D'Urfey's play, ''The Fool's Preferment''. In 1690, he composed the music for Betterton's adaptation of Fletcher and Massinger's ''Prophetess'' (afterwards called ''Dioclesian'') and Dryden's ''Amphitryon''. During the first ten years of his mastership, Purcell composed much- precisely how much we can only guess. In 1691, he wrote the music for what is sometimes considered his dramatic masterpiece, ''King Arthur'', with the libretto by Dryden and first published by the Musical Antiquarian Society in 1843. Another one of Purcell's operas is ''King Arthur'', or ''The British Worthy'' in 1691. In 1692, he composed ''The Fairy-Queen'' (an adaptation of Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''), the score of which (his longest for theatre) was rediscovered in 1901 and published by the Purcell Society. ''The Indian Queen'' followed in 1695, in which year he also wrote songs for Dryden and Davenant's version of Shakespeare's ''The Tempest'' (recently, this has been disputed by music scholars), probably including "Full fathom five" and "Come unto these yellow sands". ''The Indian Queen'' was adapted from a tragedy by Dryden and Sir Robert Howard. In these semi-operas (another term for which at the time was "dramatic opera"), the main characters of the plays do not sing but speak their lines: the action moves in dialogue rather than recitative. The related songs are sung "for" them by singers, who have minor dramatic roles.

Purcell's ''Te Deum'' and ''Jubilate Deo'' were written for Saint Cecilia's Day, 1694, the first English ''Te Deum'' ever composed with orchestral accompaniment. This work was annually performed at St Paul's Cathedral until 1712, after which it was performed alternately with Handel's ''Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate'' until 1743, when both works were replaced by Handel's ''Dettingen Te Deum''.

He composed an anthem and two elegies for Queen Mary II's funeral. Besides the operas and semi-operas already mentioned, Purcell wrote the music and songs for Thomas d'Urfey's ''The Comical History of Don Quixote'', ''Boudicca'', ''The Indian Queen'' and others, a vast quantity of sacred music, and numerous odes, cantatas, and other miscellaneous pieces. The quantity of his instrumental chamber music is minimal after his early career, and his keyboard music consists of an even more minimal number of harpsichord suites and organ pieces. In 1693, Purcell composed music for two Comedies: ''The Old Bachelor'', and ''The Double Dealer''. Purcell also composed for five other plays within the same year. In July 1695, Henry Purcell composed an ode for the Duke of Gloucester for his sixth birthday. The ode is titled ''Who can from joy refrain?'' Purcell's four-part sonatas were issued in 1697. In the remaining six years of his life, Henry Purcell wrote music for forty two plays.

Purcell died in 1695 at his home in Dean's Yard, Westminster, at the height of his career. He is believed to have been 35 or 36 years old at the time. The cause of his death is unclear: one theory is that he caught a chill after returning home late from the theatre one night to find that his wife had locked him out. Another is that he succumbed to tuberculosis. The beginning of Purcell's will reads:

:"In the name of God Amen. I, Henry Purcell, of the City of Westminster, gentleman, being dangerously ill as to the constitution of my body, but in good and perfect mind and memory (thanks be to God) do by these presents publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. And I do hereby give and bequeath unto my loving wife, Frances Purcell, all my estate both real and personal of what nature and kind soever..."

Purcell is buried adjacent to the organ in Westminster Abbey. The music that he had earlier composed for Queen Mary's funeral was performed during his as well. Purcell was universally mourned as 'a very great master of music.'  Following his death, the officials at Westminster honoured him by unanimously voting that he be buried with no expense in the north aisle of the Abbey. His epitaph reads: "Here lyes Henry Purcell Esq., who left this life and is gone to that blessed place where only his harmony can be exceeded."

Henry Purcell fathered six children by his wife Frances, four of whom died in infancy. His wife, as well as his son Edward (1689–1740) and daughter Frances, survived him. Frances the elder died in 1706, having published a number of her husband's works, including the now famous collection called ''Orpheus Britannicus'', in two volumes, printed in 1698 and 1702, respectively. Edward was appointed organist of St Clement Eastcheap, London, in 1711 and was succeeded by his son Edward Henry Purcell (d. 1765). Both men were buried in St Clement's near the organ gallery.

Influence and reputation[link]

After his death, Purcell was honoured by many of his contemporaries, including his old friend John Blow, who wrote "An Ode, on the Death of Mr. Henry Purcell (Mark how the lark and linnet sing)" with text by his old collaborator, John Dryden. More recently, the English poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote a famous sonnet entitled simply "Henry Purcell", with a headnote reading: "The poet wishes well to the divine genius of Purcell and praises him that, whereas other musicians have given utterance to the moods of man's mind, he has, beyond that, uttered in notes the very make and species of man as created both in him and in all men generally."

Purcell also had a strong influence on the composers of the English musical renaissance of the early 20th century, most notably Benjamin Britten, who created and performed a realisation of ''Dido and Aeneas'' and whose ''The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra'' is based on a theme from Purcell's ''Abdelazar''. Stylistically, the aria "I know a bank" from Britten's opera ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is clearly inspired by Purcell's aria "Sweeter than Roses", which Purcell originally wrote as part of incidental music to Richard Norton's ''Pausanias, the Betrayer of His Country''.

Purcell is honoured together with Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) on 28 July. In a 1940 interview Ignaz Friedman stated that he considered Purcell as great as Bach and Beethoven. In Victoria Street, Westminster, England, there is a bronze monument to Purcell (''right''), sculpted by Glynn Williams and erected in 1994.

Purcell's works have been catalogued by Franklin Zimmerman, who gave them a number preceded by Z. A Purcell Club was founded in London in 1836 for promoting the performance of his music, but was dissolved in 1863. In 1876 a Purcell Society was founded, which published new editions of his works. A modern day Purcell Club has been created, and provides guided tours and concerts in support of Westminster Abbey.

So strong was his reputation that a popular wedding processional was incorrectly attributed to Purcell for many years. The so-called Purcell's Trumpet Voluntary was in fact written around 1700 by a British composer named Jeremiah Clarke as the ''Prince of Denmark's March''.

In 2009 Pete Townshend of The Who, an English rock band that established itself in the 1960s, identified Purcell's harmonies as an influence on the band's music (in songs such as "Won't Get Fooled Again" (1971), "I Can See for Miles" (1967) and the very Purcellian intro to "Pinball Wizard").

Michael Nyman, at the request of the director, built the score of Peter Greenaway's 1982 film, ''The Draughtsman's Contract'' on ostinati by Purcell from various sources, one misattributed. He credited Purcell as a "music consultant." Another of Purcell's ostinati, the Cold Genius aria from ''King Arthur'', was used in Nyman's ''Memorial''.

In popular culture[link]

Purcell is among the Baroque composers who has had a direct influence on modern rock and roll; according to Pete Townshend of The Who, Purcell was among his influences, particularly evident in the opening bars of The Who's "Pinball Wizard". The processional section from Purcell's "Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary," was also adapted for the synthesiser by Wendy Carlos to serve as the theme music for the 1971 film ''A Clockwork Orange'', the music is also featured in the final scene of the 1995 film The Young Poisoner's Handbook. Noted cult New Wave artist Klaus Nomi regularly performed "The Cold Song" from ''King Arthur'' during his career, including a version on his debut self-titled album, ''Klaus Nomi'', from 1981; his last public performance before his untimely death was an interpretation of the piece done with a full orchestra in December 1982 in Munich. Purcell wrote the song for a bass, but numerous countertenors have performed the piece in homage to Nomi. Sting recorded it on his 2009 album ''If On a Winter's Night...''.

In the 1995 film ''England, My England'', the life of Purcell (played by Michael Ball) was depicted as seen through the eyes of a playwright in the 1960s who is trying to write a play about him.

In the 21st century, the soundtrack of the 2005 film version of ''Pride and Prejudice'' features a dance titled "A Postcard to Henry Purcell." This is a version by composer Dario Marianelli of Purcell's ''Abdelazar'' theme. In the German-language 2004 movie, Der Untergang ([the] Downfall (film), the music of Dido's Lament is used repeatedly as the end of the Third Reich culminates.

See also[link]

List of compositions by Henry Purcell

References[link]

;Notes

;Bibliography

Burden, Michael, ed. ''Performing the Music of Henry Purcell'', Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1996.

Burden, Michael, ed. ''Henry Purcell's Operas; The Complete Texts'', Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2000.

Dent, Edward J. ''Foundations of English Opera'', Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1928.

Duffy, Maureen, ''Henry Purcell'', Fourth Estate Ltd, Londen, 1994.

Holman, Peter and Robert Thompson. "Henry Purcell (ii)," ''Grove Music Online'', ed. L. Macy (accessed 17 March 2006), grovemusic.com (subscription access).

Holman, Peter, ''Henry Purcell'', Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1994.

Holst, Imogen, ed. ''Henry Purcell 1659–1695: Essays on His Music'', Oxford University Press, London, 1959.

Keates, Jonathan, ''Purcell'', Chatto & Windus, Londen, 1995

Moore, R. E., ''Henry Purcell and the Restoration Theatre'', Greenwood Press, Westport CT, 1961.

Muller, Julia, ''Words and Music in Henry Purcell's First Semi-Opera, Dioclesian'', Edwin Mellen Press, New York, 1990.

Orrey, Leslie and Rodney Milnes, ''Opera: A Concise History'', World of Art, Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-20217-6.

Price, Curtis A., ''Henry Purcell and the London Stage'',Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1984.

Shay, Robert, and Robert Thompson, ''Purcell Manuscripts: The Principal Musical Sources'' Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2000.

Westrup, Jack A., ''Purcell'', Dent & Sons, Londen 1980

Zimmerman, Franklin B., ''Henry Purcell, 1659–1695, His Life and Times'', University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia PA, 1983

External links[link]

Purcell by John F. Runciman, a biography forming part of Bell's Miniature Series of Musicians published in 1909, from Project Gutenberg

Short biography, audio samples and images of Purcell

Monument to Purcell

Harpsichord Suites played on virtual harpsichord

Dido's Lament – Research leading to a narrative account of how Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas was created.

[ Henry Purcell] at Allmusic

Category:English composers Category:Baroque composers Category:Opera composers Category:Glee composers Category:Old Westminsters Category:People from Westminster Category:English classical organists Category:1659 births Category:1695 deaths Category:Burials at Westminster Abbey Category:Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal Category:Anglican saints Category:English music theorists Category:Classical composers of church music

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Retired	yes
Name	Craig Young
Nickname	Albert
Birth date	June 25, 1956
Birth place	Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Height
Weight
Position
Club1	St. George Dragons
Year1start	1977
Year1end	88
Appearances1	234
Tries1	11
Goals1	0
Fieldgoals1	2
Points1	42
Teama	New South Wales
Yearastart	1979
Yearaend	84
Appearancesa	10
Triesa	0
Goalsa	0
Fieldgoalsa	0
Pointsa	0
Teamb	Australia
Yearbstart	1978
Yearbend	84
Appearancesb	20
Triesb	1
Goalsb	0
Fieldgoalsb	0
Pointsb	4
coachyear1start	1989
coachyear1end	90
coachteam1	St. George Dragons
coachgames1	44
coachwins1	18
coachdraws1	0
coachlosses1	26
premierships1	0
Source	RLP RL stats }}

Craig Young (born 25 June 1956 in Wollongong, New South Wales) is an Australian former representative rugby league footballer for the Australia national rugby league team, the New South Wales Blues and a stalwart player over 11 seasons from 1977 to 1988 with the St. George Dragons in the NSWRL premiership competition. He played at prop-forward.

Early sporting success[link]

Young had a strong grounding in the sport of soccer as a youngster and might have followed in his father's footsteps and turned professional (his father Bob Young represented Australia). His brother Warwick was a goalkeeper who played state league soccer for the Wollongong Wolves and for St George. At the age of 16, Craig was playing for Bellambi in the Illawarra soccer competition while he was also competing for Corrimal in rugby league. League eventually won the battle and Young was selected to tour Great Britain as an Australian schoolboy in 1972.

Club career[link]

Young's signature was chased by several clubs but the St. George Dragons eventually secured his services. In his 1977 debut season coach Harry Bath claimed Young was destined for a great future and in that same year Young was instrumental in helping the Dragons take the premiership title, beating the Parramatta Eels in the grand final.

In 1979, Young was awarded captaincy of the Dragons' side and at 22 years of age led the side to its 15th title. He captained the side through tougher times up till 1988 including the 1985 Grand Final loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs. In his final 1988 season he captained the Dragons when they won the mid-week Panasonic Cup competition, beating the Balmain Tigers 16-8.

Representative career[link]

He was selected for the 1978 Kangaroo Tour and played in all five Tests and eleven Tour matches. He was named "Player of the Tour".

He first represented for New South Wales in 1979, making five appearances under the old selection rules. He was selected for the Blues in the first ever State of Origin fixture in 1980 and made four further State of Origin appearances up till 1984.

In 1982 Young was named man-of-the-match in Australia's series-winning second test match against New Zealand.

On the 1982 Invincibles Kangaroo tour Young in played in five of the six Tests as well as six Tour matches. His final national representative selection was at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the 1st test of the domestic Ashes series against Great Britain in 1984.

Post-playing career[link]

Young took up a coaching role at the Dragons in 1989 for two seasons until he was replaced by Brian Smith at the beginning of the 1991 season. He returned to the Dragons' coaching staff as recruitment manager in 2003.

Craig along with his sons, Brian Young and Dean Young run the Unanderra Hotel, 15 minutes south of Wollongong.

The Youngs purchased the Hotel in 1991 the year after Craig was sacked as coach of the Dragons.

There is a picture of a crocodile mounted in the sports bar as reference to Craig's nickname "The Croc". The machine of choice in the Hotel is the "Cherry Supreme"

Since 2005, Young has had a security role as team manager with the New South Wales Blues squads.

Craig Young is the father of Dragons hooker Dean Young.

Awards & accolades[link]

While playing football, Young also served in the New South Wales Police Force and in 2008, rugby league's centenary year in Australia, he was named at prop in a NSW Police ''Team of the Century''.

References[link]

External links[link]

Craig Young at eraofthebiff.com

Category:1957 births Category:People from Wollongong Category:Australian police officers Category:Australian rugby league players Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players Category:Australia national rugby league team players Category:St. George Dragons players Category:St. George Dragons coaches Category:Clive Churchill Medal winners Category:Living people

Samuel Sebastian Wesley (14 August 1810 – 19 April 1876) was an English organist and composer.

Biography[link]

Born in London, he was the eldest child in the composer Samuel Wesley's second family, which he formed with Sarah Suter having separated from his wife Charlotte. Samuel Sebastian was the grandson of Charles Wesley. His middle name derived from his father's lifelong admiration for the music of Bach.

After singing in the choir of the Chapel Royal as a boy, Samuel Sebastian embarked on a career as a musician, and was appointed organist at Hereford Cathedral in 1832. He moved to Exeter Cathedral three years later, and subsequently held appointments at Leeds Parish Church (from 1842), Winchester Cathedral (from 1849) and Gloucester Cathedral (1865-1876).

Famous in his lifetime as one of his country's leading organists and choirmasters, he composed almost exclusively for the Church of England, which continues to cherish his memory. His better-known anthems include ''Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace'' and ''Wash me throughly''. He also wrote several rather late examples of verse anthems, which contrast unison and contrapuntal sections with smaller, more intimate passages for solo voice or voices. ''Blessed be the God and Father'', ''The Wilderness'' and ''Ascribe unto the Lord'' are of considerable length, as is his Service in E. The popular short anthem ''Lead me, Lord'' is an extract from ''Praise the Lord, O my soul''. Several of his compositions for solo organ have enduring value and continue to be played in recitals.

One notable feature of his career is his aversion to equal temperament, an aversion he kept for decades after this tuning method had been accepted on the Continent and even in most of England.

Musical works[link]

Selected works include:

Anthems[link]

''The Wilderness'' (1832)

''Blessed be the God and Father'' (1833/34)

''Let us lift up our heart'' (c. 1836)

''O Lord, thou art my God'' (c. 1836)

''To my request and earnest cry'' (c. 1836)

''Wash me throughly'' (c. 1840)

''Cast me not away'' (1848)

''The face of the Lord'' (1848)

''Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace'' (c. 1850)

''Ascribe unto the Lord'' (1851)

''I am thine, O save me'' (1857)

''Praise the Lord, O my soul'' (1861), includes:

*''Lead me, Lord''

Services[link]

Morning and Evening Service in E (1845)

Short Full Service in F (c. 1865)

Organ[link]

Variations and Fugue on "God Save the King" (1831)

Introduction and Fugue in C sharp minor (?1835)

Larghetto in F minor (c. 1835)

''Three Pieces for a Chamber Organ'', book 1 (1842), includes:

*''Choral Song''

''Three Pieces for a Chamber Organ'', book 2 (1843), includes:

*Larghetto in F sharp minor

Literary works[link]

''A Few Words on Cathedral Music and the Musical System of the Church, with a Plan of Reform'' (1849)

Samuel Sebastian Wesley 200th anniversary celebrations at Leeds[link]

The 200th anniversary celebrations for Samuel Sebastian Wesley, born 14 August 1810, began with Festal Evensong at Leeds Parish Church on Sunday 4 July 2010 followed by a Gala Choral Recital. Worship on Sunday 15 August was broadcast on BBC Radio Four. Dr Lindley gave a commemorative recital of Wesley's organ music in the evening and a commemorative recital of music by Wesley at Leeds Town Hall on 13 September.

References[link]

External links[link]

Audio recording of ''Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace'' from Coro Nostro, a mixed chamber choir based in Leicester, UK.

Video recording of ''Lead me, Lord'' sung by the Choir of Somerville College, Oxford

Video recording of ''O Lord my God'' sung by the Choir of Somerville College, Oxford

Category:1810 births Category:1876 deaths Category:English composers Category:Romantic composers Category:Composers for pipe organ Category:English classical organists Category:Cathedral organists Category:Wesley family

hu:Samuel Sebastian Wesley simple:Samuel Sebastian Wesley sv:Samuel Sebastian Wesley