Awake, ye dead

This dramatic sacred song for two basses opens with music that immediately conjures the scene of the Last Judgment. The text vividly depicts the awakening of the dead, the sounding of the trumpet, and the ensuing chaos of the world's end. Purcell's setting emphasizes the alarm and amazement of this momentous event, contrasting it with the virtuous soul's unshakeable ascent. The insistent calls to 'Awake' and the powerful imagery of falling orbs and shaking foundations are powerfully conveyed through the two low voices, creating a scene of profound spiritual and cosmic upheaval.