“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.
Score
Item no.: 1338078
for: Clarinet
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1612934
Dm
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1666215
Piano reduction
Item no.: 476181
Klassik
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 858704
Klassik
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 891696
EMB Album Series
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 212691
for mixed chorus and organ
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 368514
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 164791
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 155571
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 169718
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1190365
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1187086
Klassik
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 321140
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 292645
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 341215
Song For The Duke Of Gloucester's Birthday 1695 (Full Score)
for: Opera
Book
Item no.: 321578
Dramatic Music Part 1 (Full Score)
for: SATB Orchestra
Book
Item no.: 472754
Klassik
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 336191
für Tuba und Klavier
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594943
Alto Posaune & Klavier (Organ)
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594940
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594937
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272269
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272268
for: Chamber ensemble
Buch
Item no.: 857919
Blasorchester
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 588494
for: 4 Blockflöten (SATB) oder 3 Blockflöten (SAT); Klavier ad libitum
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1546363
Air, Dido's Lament from the opera Dido and Aeneas
for: Piano
Single edition
Item no.: 941296
and all that is within me Z47
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 628323
Festival Choral
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 803698
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 903866
Prüfungsliteratur
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 901968
Catches (Cloth Bound)
for: Unison Choir
Book
Item no.: 887550
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 899041
Klassik
for: Organ Accompaniment Continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 898336
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 867671
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 894211
Két régi angol kánon
for: Men's choir [women's chori] (3 equal voices ) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 822657
Floreat Musicae No.1
for: Brass Quintet [With 2 Timpani Ad Lib.]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 819148
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Book
Item no.: 900106
for Saxophone Quartet
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 877775
in Score Form)
for: String Instruments SATB Piano Accompaniment
Choir score
Item no.: 877725
aus der der Oper "The Fairy Queen" (1692)
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), horn (F), trombone (quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1077
aus der Oper "The Fairy Queen"
for: 2 trumpets (C/B-flat), 2 trombones (tenor, bass) [tenor horn (B-flat), bass trombone] (quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1591
Purcell arranged by Martland for saxophone quartet
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 726050
for voice and ensemble
for: 2 Violinen und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier, Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 747299
Edition Schott
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 746764
Contemporary
for: 8 saxophones (SSAATTBarBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1666683
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