"Ingenious Reader. Instead of an elaborate harangue on the beauty and the charms of Musick which (after all the learned Encomions that words can contrive) commends itself best by the performances of a skilful hand, and an angelical voice: I shall say but a very few things by way of Preface, concerning the following Book, and its Author: for its Author, he has faithfully endeavour'd a just imitation of the most fam'd Italian Masters; principally, to bring the Seriousness and gravity of that sort of Musick into vogue, and reputation among our Country-men, whose humour, 'tis time now, should begin to loath the levity and balladry of our neighbours: The attempt he confesses to be bold and daring, there being Pens and Artists of more eminent abilities, much better qualifi'd for the imployment than his, or himself, which he well hopes these his weak endeavours, will in due time provoke, and enflame to a more accurate undertaking. He is not asham'd to own his unskilfulness in Italian Language; but that's the unhappiness of his Education, which cannot justly be accounted his fault, however he thinks he may warrantably affirm, that he is not mistaken in the power of the Italian Notes, or elegancy of their Compositions, which he would recommend to the English Artists. There has been neither care, nor industry wanting, as well in contriving, as revising the whole Work; which had been abroad in the world much sooner, but that he has now thought fit to cause the whole Thorough Bass to be Engraven, which was a thing quite beside his first Resolutions. It remains only that the English Practitioner be enform'd, that he will find a few terms of Art perhaps unusual to him, the chief of which are these following: _Adagio_ and _Grave_ which imports nothing but a very slow movement: _Presto_, _Largo_, and _Vivace_, a very brisk, swift, or fast movement: _Piano_, soft. The Author has no more to add, but his hearty wishes, that his Book may fall into no other hands but theirs who carry Musical Souls about them; for he is willing to flatter himself into a belief, that with Such his labours will seem neither unpleasant, nor unprofitable, Vale."
The foregoing preface is eminently characteristic of the unassuming and retiring disposition of Purcell. The sonatas have never been printed in score, but a few masterly movements selected from the parts and reduced for the pianoforte are inserted in Dr. Crotch's specimens of ancient music; a perusal of these will whet the appetite for more music of such sterling quality.