This edition was prepared by Pierre Bacquet — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Funeral Music for Queen Mary, Z 860
Staff Notation • Sacred, Cantatas, Burial / Funeral Hymns
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9 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Funeral Music for Queen Mary, Z 860 by Henry Purcell — Lyrics
1. Man that is born of a woman
hath but a short time to live,
and is full of misery.
He cometh up, and is cut down like a flower;
he fleeth as it were a shadow,
and ne'er continueth in one stay.
2. In the midst of life we are in death:
of whom may we seek for succour,
but of thee, O Lord,
who for our sins art justly displeased?
Yet, O Lord, O Lord most mighty,
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About Funeral Music for Queen Mary, Z 860
Henry Purcell's Funeral Music for Queen Mary is a profound and moving work for SATB choir. The text, drawn from the Burial Service, powerfully evokes the transience of human life and the universal experience of mortality. It speaks of our brief existence, comparing us to a fleeting flower and a shadow, before turning to the plea for divine succour in the face of death. The music reflects the solemnity of the occasion, with moments of intense poignancy and solemn contemplation. This sacred piece offers a deeply resonant reflection on life, death, and faith, making it a significant addition to any service of remembrance or funeral rite.
