“Music is yet but in its nonage, a forward Child, which gives hope of what it may be hereafter in England, when the masters of it shall find more Encouragement.” Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Honouring the past, yet joying in the modern influences from Europe, Purcell forged forwards, and spearheaded musical development for a number of decades. Browse our sheet music and scores, and explore more of Purcell’s work today.
Henry Purcell was born in Westminster, where he lived his whole life. Part of a highly musical family, Purcell’s father, Henry Senior, was a gentleman of the Chapel Royal, and his uncle Thomas was also a musician. He was a boy chorister at the Chapel Royal, and at the age of 14, while studying at Westminster School, young Henry Purcell was appointed Assistant of the King’s Instruments under John Hingston. One year later he became Organ Tuner at Westminster Abbey, and the following year, he was employed to transcribe organ anthems for the Abbey.
At the age of 18, Purcell succeeded Matthew Locke as Composer for the King’s Viols, and the appointment as Organist of Westminster Abbey followed just two years later, as John Blow, recognising Purcell’s remarkable talent, chose to step down. Three years later, Purcell became Organist of the Chapel Royal, a post he held alongside his work at the Abbey.
Purcell married his wife Frances shortly before taking the Organist role at the Chapel Royal, and they had six children, two of which survived, including Edward Purcell, who went on to be Organist at St. Clements, London.
Much of Purcell’s Keyboard Music, the Organ Works by Purcell, and Purcell’s Chamber Music came from his early years, including his Sonatas for Viols, and with his various ecclesiastical appointments, his focus naturally turned to sacred music and choral music. His Anthems, and Verse Anthems are particularly celebrated, most famously Funeral Music for Queen Mary (1695).
Purcell’s secular songs, and the theatrical works by Purcell are particularly well known. He wrote incidental music and songs for over 40 plays, and he wrote a number of semi-operas, which include music and dialogue, notably King Arthur (1691) and Fairy Queen (1692) based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His 1689 opera Dido & Aeneas, which was commissioned by, and first performed at Josias Priest’s School for Young Gentlewoman in Chelsea, is the only work he wrote which was through composed, including Italian-style recitative.
Purcell’s final work, Daniel Purcell, who was organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, completed the work in his honour.
for: 3 recorders (SSA)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 696283
Discovery Choral
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 810705
Incidental music for strings
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 214483
Suite aus der Musik zum Sommernachtstraum
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 159836
für gemischten Chor und Basso continuo
for: Mixed choir, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 365292
for: Strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 120848
for: Mixed choir, piano
Item no.: 120565
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 120521
Bearbeitet für Flötengruppen und Schlagwerk von A. Rosenstengel.
for: Recorder ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 199669
for Clarinet Quartet
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 609733
Harpsichord And Org. Music (Original Engraving)
for: Organ Organ Accompaniment Harpsichord
Book
Item no.: 630410
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 910037
Klassik
for: Choir
Book
Item no.: 895613
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 876534
Klassik
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 322222
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 900208
Purcells Semi-Oper für Sprecher und Blockflöten (AATB)
for: Narrator, 4 recorders (AATB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 266300
Klassik
for: Voice, Harpsichord and Continuo
Book
Item no.: 861952
10 Sonatas Of Four Parts (Full Score)
for: String orchestra
Book
Item no.: 321580
for: Voice (soprano), trumpet, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 268530
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 322115
Edition Schott
for: 2 Violinen und Violoncello oder 3 Violen (Fideln)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 747297
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 1682037
Masterpiece Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 972486
Alto Saxophone & Klavier (Organ)
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1668224
from "The Double Dealer"
Z. T676
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4109
Fünf kleine geistliche Stücke
Ab Quartett spielbar!
for: Brass ensemble (4 voices) [brass band / flexible wind orchestra]
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1673141
for: Recorders [SATB]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1040072
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1037749
For Twelve Trumpets and Four Trombones
for: 12 Trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 966672
Klassik
for: Trumpet or Clarinet and Piano
Book
Item no.: 971912
for: 2 violins, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 930258
Geistliche Musik
for: String instrument
Score, Parts
Item no.: 864776
Videro
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 839450
Klassik
for: Soprano, Piano and Continuo
Book
Item no.: 909164
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1078123
from the "Fantazias and In Nomines" for Strings
for: 4 Gitarren oder Gitarrenensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 735575
for: Handbells
Buch
Item no.: 916529
Klassik
for: Chamber ensemble
Buch
Item no.: 859951
Full Score
for: String Ensemble and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 862189
Klassik
for: Mixed Choir [SATB] and Ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 862148
Klassik
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Book
Item no.: 645192
Klassik
for: Alto SATB Trumpet String Ensemble Organ Accompaniment
Book
Item no.: 895146
Klassik
for: String instrument
Music score
Item no.: 903651
Three English Grounds
for: 1 und 2. Alt-Blockflöte, Basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1108085
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 561457
Klassik
for: Viola Violin Bass Voice SATB Organ Accompaniment
Choir score
Item no.: 656860
for: Choir
Piano reduction
Item no.: 296861
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