The majority of Purcell’s sacred music was written before 1685, when Kings Charles II died. Charles II had a been a great friend and encouraging patron of music. King James was less popular, and Purcell appears to have written relatively little music for James. One of two settings of the Magnificat by Henry Purcell, no contemporary manuscript of the Purcell Magnficat, Z. 231 survives, and therefore, the date of composition is unknown. This delightful setting mixes four-part chorus and six-part verses, these latter sections always alternating the high and low voice trios. It concludes with a simple Gloria.