“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.
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304587
for: Horn, piano
Item no.: 579474
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304591
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304589
Spielmusik zum Trauerspiel
for: String orchestra; Piano [harpsichord] ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 409155
Boosey and Hawkes Voice
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 489728
Oper/Operette
for: Opera
Piano reduction
Item no.: 277649
With drooping wings, ye Cupids come
for: Women's choir (SSAA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 906668
Chaconne
for: 3 Alt-Blockflöten (Violinen) und Klavier (Cembalo, Orgel); Bass ad libitum (Bass-Blockflöte, Fagott, Violoncello, Viola da gamba)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 749694
Purcell Society Volume
for: SATB, Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 321581
from the incidental music to Abdelazar
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 355475
Geistliche Musik
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 188499
from: Funeral Music for Queen Mary
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 4184
Oper/Operette
for: SATB and Orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 123413
Dover Piano And Keyboard Editions
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 187657
from: Funeral Music for Queen Mary
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 4554
Freely arranged for Organ
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 741899
for: Clarinet, horn, bassoon
Score, Parts
Item no.: 663405
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 469393
Chaconne
Originalmusik für Blockflöte
for: 3 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 420960
Chacone by Mr. D Purcell für
Altblockflöte und Bc
for: HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE BLOCKFLÖTE MIT TASTENINSTRUMENT ALT-BLOCKFLÖTE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 280715
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419503
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 120847
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score (facsimile)
Item no.: 771305
Complete Harpsichord Works 1
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 277854
for: Treble recorder, guitar
Ensemble score
Item no.: 418262
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 355734
ALB
Edited by Gerald Cooper.
17
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score
Item no.: 321721
from Dido and Aeneas
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759050
for: Women's choir (SSAA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1039066
TrTrAATB solos, TrTrATB and Organ
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), organ
Piano reduction
Item no.: 929310
for: 3 soloists (ATB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929277
POD
for: 3 Violins, Bass Violin and BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 862509
Parts
for: Continuo and String Ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 867152
for: Mixed choir (3 voices), organ
Score
Item no.: 982706
A commemorative selection of pieces
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 971792
English Solo Song Guides
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 768165
7 songs for high voice and keyboard
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 206469
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 556382
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 332601
for 2 voices and keyboard
for: 2 voices, piano
Score
Item no.: 111708
7 Songs
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 748892
Song
for: Sopran, 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier; Violoncello ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 782214
Coronation Anthem für Doppelchor
for: gemischter Chor (SSAATTBB), Streicher und Orgel
Partitur (= Klavierauszug)
Item no.: 748662
The Fairy Queen
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Music score
Item no.: 733515
for: 3 voices (TTB), Bass instrument, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 929202
for: 2 soloists (AB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929267
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 982862
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