Two Aires From The Virtuous Wife, Henry Purcell, arranged by Paul Burnell for instruments in four parts.

The download contains the score together with a set of parts.

Duration (if Aire played twice) 3:30

I Slow Aire, Z.611/3 II Aire, Z.611/4

The Aire may be played through completely twice and, if the ensemble contains many players on each part, the instrumentation may be varied the second time.

The two movements have both been transposed up a tone from the original.

The arrangement is suitable for multiple quartet combinations with parts available (and potential instrumentations suggested) as follows:

Part 1: C, Eb(flute, oboe, alto recorder, Ebclarinet, violin 1) Part 2: C, Bb(oboe, tenor recorder, Bbclarinet, violin 2) Part 3: C - alto & bass clefs, Bb, Eb, F (Bbclarinet, bass recorder, alto saxophone, horn in F, viola) Part 4: C - bass clef, Bb, F (bassoon, great bass recorder, tenor saxophone, horn in F, 'cello)

Part 4 may be played an octave lower than written.

Any other appropriate instruments, even if not suggested above, may play.

Although the score is presented with a layout appropriate for string quartet this does not indicate a preferred instrumentation.

Programme note: In 1694 Henry Purcell composed a suite of short pieces to accompany the play "The Virtuous Wife, or, Good Luck at Last" by Thomas D'Urfey. The suite was later included in the posthumous 1697 publication 'A Collection of Ayres, Compos'd For the Theatre, and upon other Occasions''. This arrangement includes the 'Slow Aire' and 'Aire'.