--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Purcell is a composer who had a formative…" description: "\"Purcell is a composer who had a formative influence on British music - even The Who now cite him as an influence. There's an intense, dirty harmony, bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/charles-hazlewood-15398_british_purcell-is-a-composer-who-had-a-formativ_2887774.png" --- # Purcell is a composer who had a formative influence on… ![“Purcell is a composer who had a formative influence on British music - even The Who now cite him as an influence. There's an intense, dirty harmony, but there's a Louis XIV kind of elan and style, too. He had the melancholy DNA of our national folk heritage.” quote by Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/charles-hazlewood-15398_british_purcell-is-a-composer-who-had-a-formativ_2887774.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/charles-hazlewood-15398_british_purcell-is-a-composer-who-had-a-formativ_2887774.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/charles-hazlewood-15398_british_purcell-is-a-composer-who-had-a-formativ_2887774.png) > “Purcell is a composer who had a formative influence on British music - even The Who now cite him as an influence. There's an intense, dirty harmony, but there's a Louis XIV kind of elan and style, too. He had the melancholy DNA of our national folk heritage.” [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Purcell’s style blends raw, gritty harmonies with refined, aristocratic elegance, reflecting both folk melancholy and regal flair. **In simple terms:** Purcell mixes earthy and elegant sounds. Key Takeaway Recognize diverse influences in music. Themes music history influence style Mood reflective appreciative Type analytical historical When to use this quote - classical composition - modern rock inspiration - cultural analysis Key Concepts Baroque folk heritage royal aesthetic Questions to Reflect On - How does blending contrast enrich artistic expression? - Can modern artists truly capture historic nuance? A Different Perspective Purcell’s impact may be overstated for contemporary bands. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-music/) [Cite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cite/) [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Dna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dna/) [Folk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folk/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Heritage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heritage/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) ## Related quotes > [“We are finding it- first in our heads, then in our hearts." He reminded Purcell. "This is a spiritual journey before it becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/we-are-finding-it-first-in-our-heads-then-in-our-hearts-he-reminded/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [This was the period when I used all the influence I had to get the British to abandon their export trade, and as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/this-was-the-period-when-i-used-all-the-influence-i-had-to-get-the/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) > [We have to withdraw from this undemocratic institution and ensure that these people no longer have any influence on British affairs. We would like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blake/we-have-to-withdraw-from-this-undemocratic-institution-and-ensure/) [Steve Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blake/) > [I was never too keen on the British music press. They've called us a supermarket hype, and they used to suggest that we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-was-never-too-keen-on-the-british-music-press-they-ve-called-us-a/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [In the past, people couldn't place me. They thought that I was Danish or English or French. They never got that I am Italian.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-zucchelli/in-the-past-people-couldn-t-place-me-they-thought-that-i-was-danish/) [Italo Zucchelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-zucchelli/) > [I have been long associated with British music. I have favoured it as my alternate music next to American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-slatkin/i-have-been-long-associated-with-british-music-i-have-favoured-it-as/) [Leonard Slatkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-slatkin/) > [Everybody was in tears. You turned on the radio or the television, and it was nothing but Gainsbourg. With typical British music journalist disdain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-simmons/everybody-was-in-tears-you-turned-on-the-radio-or-the-television-and/) [Sylvie Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-simmons/) > [I was brought up on choirs and brass bands. They formed the music of my childhood. When I heard the Treorchy Male Choir at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parkinson/i-was-brought-up-on-choirs-and-brass-bands-they-formed-the-music-of/) [Michael Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parkinson/) > [Growing up around British music, you realise how much depth there is to it... my stuff is different to the likes of Pitbull for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-harris/growing-up-around-british-music-you-realise-how-much-depth-there-is/) [Calvin Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-harris/) > [The whole British music scene of the mid-sixties had a pretty profound effect on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/the-whole-british-music-scene-of-the-mid-sixties-had-a-pretty/) [Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/) > [I always had a repulsive sort of need to be something more than human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-always-had-a-repulsive-sort-of-need-to-be-something-more-than-human/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I didn't like any British music before The Beatles. For me, it was all about black American music. But then I became a successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lulu/i-didn-t-like-any-british-music-before-the-beatles-for-me-it-was-all/) [Lulu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lulu/) > [People are always asking me what my lyrics mean. Does it mean this, does it mean that, that's all anybody wants to know. F\*\*k…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/people-are-always-asking-me-what-my-lyrics-mean-does-it-mean-this/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [Before Cliff (Richard) and The Shadows, there had been nothing worth listening to in British music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/before-cliff-richard-and-the-shadows-there-had-been-nothing-worth/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [I'm going to be writing to British artists, saying just this: File sharing's not OK for British music. We need to find new ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/i-m-going-to-be-writing-to-british-artists-saying-just-this-file/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) ## More by Charles Hazlewood > [Classical music has become rarefied, like a maiden aunt that nobody wants to talk to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/classical-music-has-become-rarefied-like-a-maiden-aunt-that-nobody/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [I admire Tom Ades: he's a brilliant conductor, and he gets just the right hard, brilliant sound from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/i-admire-tom-ades-he-s-a-brilliant-conductor-and-he-gets-just-the/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [All roads for me lead back to Mozart. In his tragically short life, he breathed new life, fire and meaning into every form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/all-roads-for-me-lead-back-to-mozart-in-his-tragically-short-life-he/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [There is a terrible conservatism, like a cancer, right in the heartlands of music-making, a tremendous resistance to change, an absolute horror of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/there-is-a-terrible-conservatism-like-a-cancer-right-in-the/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [I want to prove that Holst's 'The Planets' can be as much of a sensory overload as a concert by the Grateful Dead, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/i-want-to-prove-that-holst-s-the-planets-can-be-as-much-of-a-sensory/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [Even if you're playing the most well-known repertoire under the sun, I still believe you have a responsibility as an artist to tell the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/even-if-you-re-playing-the-most-well-known-repertoire-under-the-sun-i/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [I hate playing the piano! And it's so hard to fight for Beethoven's soul! But that's what I have to do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/i-hate-playing-the-piano-and-it-s-so-hard-to-fight-for-beethoven-s/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [Music is a lens through which to see who we are. Every phrase of every piece of music is trying to tell a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/music-is-a-lens-through-which-to-see-who-we-are-every-phrase-of-every/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [When I analyse the music, I can get really extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/when-i-analyse-the-music-i-can-get-really-extreme/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [For too long, musicians have been the greatest enemy of music. Their lack of desire to proselytize is a kind of betrayal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/for-too-long-musicians-have-been-the-greatest-enemy-of-music-their/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [Parallels between classical and pop are not new. The whole San Francisco movement of John Cage and Terry Riley went hand in glove with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/parallels-between-classical-and-pop-are-not-new-the-whole-san/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [The Southbank Centre Unlimited Festival was a distinct moment in time, an amazing counterpoint to the London 2012 Paralympics. There is no question that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/the-southbank-centre-unlimited-festival-was-a-distinct-moment-in-time/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [Most people in the Western world grow up with the received wisdom that Mozart was a genius. But few people necessarily know why. More…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/most-people-in-the-western-world-grow-up-with-the-received-wisdom/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [I most definitely would not buy the 'Daily Mail,' which pours a kind of livid torpor into the eyelids of the average Brit -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/i-most-definitely-would-not-buy-the-daily-mail-which-pours-a-kind-of/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) > [Musical 'fusion' projects have earned themselves a bad name, but that's mainly because they often involve pop artists conscripting orchestras to play unimaginative backdrops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hazlewood/musical-fusion-projects-have-earned-themselves-a-bad-name-but-that-s/) [Charles Hazlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) [Explore all 43 Charles Hazlewood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hazlewood/) ## More British quotes > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [I always wanted to make a 'James Bond' film, and they only seemed to hire British directors, and I'd made 'Swingers' - they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-a-james-bond-film-and-they-only-seemed-to/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [All the cliches of glamorous sophistication have little appeal to me. Do I want to live the British version of 'Dynasty?' No thanks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/all-the-cliches-of-glamorous-sophistication-have-little-appeal-to-me/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [While we like to think queueing is unique to British culture, the truth is that we are mere amateurs. 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The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The whole nuclear-arms-control and non-proliferation policy of the nuclear powers is a fraud: The Americans could not prevent the Soviets from replicating their weaponry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-whole-nuclear-arms-control-and-non-proliferation-policy-of-the/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) [Browse all 3,149 British quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Purcell is a composer who had a formative influence on British music - even The Who now cite him as an influence. 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