All Hail The Queen

Fly, bold rebellion was one of Purcell’s early Welcome Songs, composed for Charles II in 1683. The manuscript gives no indication of the date of the first performance, but it seems evident from the anonymous author of the words that it was written shortly after the discovery of the Rye House Plot, which took place in June 1683. The Ode thus would seem likely to have been performed to celebrate Charles’s return from Windsor to Whitehall at the end of June, or perhaps later in the year on his return to London from Winchester (25 September) or Newmarket (20 October). After the splendid two-part Symphony, the Ode contains the already established selection of choruses, trios and solos, interspersed with Purcell’s deliciously scored string ritornelli.

It must get increasingly difficult for veteran acts to remain relevant in the mainstream rock/pop industry. Big name metal bands from the 80s don’t seem to struggle so much, but it’s a different thing to be on Top Of The Pops in 1974, then remain a force to be reckoned with in those same circles. Enter Michigan rocker Suzi Quatro: the most badass bitch the rock ‘n’ roll world ever did see…