Henry Purcell

(10 September 1659 21 November 1695)

When I am Laid
Dido and Aeneas Z626 (1688)
keyboard/voice
(P. De Matthaeis)

The text, and the Purcell opera are alluding to the

Roman legend of the Aeneid, the story of a Trojan
Warrior Aeneas, seeking Italy in order to settle
there and secure his son's lineage. Aeneas is blown
o course from Sicily, and lands on the shores of
Northern Africa, in Carthage, a recently settled
city of former Tyrians. Their queen is Dido, with
whom Aeneas has a love aair, before departing
for Italy and leaving Dido alone. She becomes so
distraught that she orders for a large pyre to be
placed, on which she plans to impale herself, and
be set ablaze so that Aeneas will see from his ship.
This is perhaps the most poignant part of the
legend, and ends at the culmination of Book IV.
 When I am Laid
Dido and Aeneas (1688)

Recitative
Thy hand, Belinda, darkness shades me,
On thy bosom let me rest,
More I would, but Death invades me;
Death is now a welcome guest.
Aria
When I am laid, am laid in earth,
May my wrongs create
No trouble, no trouble in thy breast;
Remember me, remember me, but ah!
Forget my fate.
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.

H.Purcell (1659 - 1695)

rev. Paolo De Matthaeis

c b r r r r j r j j j j j j j
Dido & J J R J J b b b
Thy hand,Be-lin - da; dark - - ness shades me: On Thy bo - som let me
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Organ

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5
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rest: More I wo - uld, but De - ath in -vades me: Death is now a wel - co - me guest.
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Copyright Cappella Musicale Costantina
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10
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15 very softly
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When I am laid, am laid in earth, may my wrongs cre -
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20
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ate No trou - ble, no trou - ble in thy breast,
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25
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When I am Re - mem -ber me ! Re - mem -ber me !
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30
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But ah ! For-get my fate, re - mem -ber me ! But
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4

35
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ah ! for - get my fate. Re - mem -ber me ! Re-
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40
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mem -ber me ! But ah ! For get my fate, re - mem -ber me ! But
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45
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51
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54
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* without pedal you should play in 8 higher

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