Behold I Bring You Glad Tidings Z.2: Verse Anthem for 3 Voices and Chorus four Voices with Instruments - Purcell, Henry 1659-1695 (London Novello, 1811)
Purcell's composition dates from 1687 and, from its text (three verses from Chapter 2 of St Luke’s Gospel), we can be fairly sure that it was written for Christmas in the Chapel Royal. Surprisingly, it is Purcell’s only anthem composed specifically for the Feast of Christmas.
From an extremely rare & unpublished MS in the possession of Mr. Greatorex Org.st of West.r Abbey, by whose kind & liberal permission it is now first engraved
Keywords: 17th Century (1601-1700); 19th Century (1801-1900); Vocal music; Christmas; Religion; Anthem; United Kingdom