“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: Voice (high), piano
Score
Item no.: 169711
for: Low Voice In G and Piano
Score
Item no.: 169712
for: 3 recorders (SSA)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 696283
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1343537
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 562671
for: Trumpet, organ
Buch
Item no.: 198856
für gemischten Chor und Basso continuo
for: Mixed choir, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 365292
for: Horn, piano
Item no.: 579474
Trumpet Voluntary, Trumpet Tune
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 937108
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 928521
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 618981
Geistliche Musik
Book
Item no.: 936058
Mag' das Schicksalsbeil des ew'gen Richters
for: Bariton und Tasteninstrument
Item no.: 355593
for: Recorders [SAT]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 905574
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 897038
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 982862
Klassik
Score
Item no.: 885478
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Male choir (TTBB), organ [orchestra]
Organ score
Item no.: 248032
for: Soprano, Countertenor, Tenor, Bass Voice and SATB
Piano reduction
Item no.: 867121
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Music score
Item no.: 897624
Sonatas IV-VI
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 893494
Geistliche Musik
for: Countertenor, TTBB, SATB and Piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 867234
Klassik
Score
Item no.: 882029
Klassik
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 646581
Edition Schott
for: Sopran- und Alt-Blockflöte und Klavier oder 3 Blockflöten (SAT) und Klavier ad libitum
Einzelstimme Sopran- und Alt-Blockflöte
Item no.: 748653
Nos. 7-10
for: 2 Violinen, Bass und Basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 737160
for: Choir
Score
Item no.: 888894
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra [organ]
Organ score
Item no.: 339696
Southern Music
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 926647
Edition Schott
for: 3 recorders (SSA)
Music score
Item no.: 749872
Nos. 1-6
for: 2 Violinen, Bass und Basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 737159
Klassik
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 1110874
Sonatas 1-3 (Violin 2 Part)
Single part Violin
Item no.: 892204
Version A & B
for: Voice (high), basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 889420
"Welcome to all the pleasures"
for: 5 Soli, Chor, Streicher und Basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 755978
Duet from the Masque in "Timon of Athens"
for: 2 Soprane, 2 Blockflöten (Alt oder Sopran) und Klavier (Cembalo); Violoncello ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 726788
for: Mixed choir (SATB), strings
Score
Item no.: 872991
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Book
Item no.: 1109890
Sonatas IV-VI
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 887629
Sonatas 7-9 (Cello/Double Bass Part)
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 882252
for: Women's choir (SSAA), organ
Piano score
Item no.: 1342914
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusikmusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Score
Item no.: 119868
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 1203662
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1129239
TrTrAATB solos, TrTrATB and Organ
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), organ
Piano reduction
Item no.: 929310
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 977714
for: Blockflötenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 977706
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