亨利‧普賽爾是最早把英語頌歌、讚美詩譜寫入樂的作曲家，最典型的例子就是《感恩贊》與《歡樂頌》。這些曲子的功能是表達對上帝或君主的崇敬，對戰爭獲勝與締結和平盟約的感謝，或是音樂本身帶給人的喜悅。當然，這類音樂的氣氛一定要大量仰賴小號、定音鼓等樂器的「助陣」，而在普賽爾為皇家生日慶典所譜的曲子裡，呈現出他如何絕妙精巧地應用這兩種樂器。其中最優秀的幾部作品的音樂本身，更是凌駕樂曲原來的作用，每一首作品都有濃烈的普賽爾風格。

[曲目]

Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626
King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628
Prophetess, or The History of Dioclesian, semi-opera, Z. 627
Timon of Athens, semi-opera, Z. 632
Come ye sons of art away (Birthday ode for Queen Mary), for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 323
Welcome to all the pleasures (A Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day), for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 339
Of old when heroes thought it base (Yorkshire Feast Song), ode for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 333

Anne Sofie von Otter
Sarah Leonard
Carol Hall
Nigel Rogers
Lynne Dawson
Trevor Pinnock / English Concert