What's in a name?

Alexander Blachly (alexander.blachly.3@nd.edu)
Thu, 29 Apr 1999 11:06:38 -0700 (PDT)

John Howell's asked:

>I have a concert Friday where I will be speaking about the work of Henry
>Purcell. Which means I have to decide how to pronounce it! Am I correct
>in assuming that both PUR-cell (in the US) and Pur-CELL (in the UK) are
>equally acceptable?
>

Gerard Manley Hopkins, in his poem "Henry Purcell," rhymes the composer's
name with "reversal," "nursle," and "rehearsal."

Cheers,

Alexander Blachly