“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: 2 Alt-Blockflöten (Flöten, Violinen) und Klavier (Cembalo), Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Item no.: 351270
for: Voice, guitar
Item no.: 163741
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304591
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304589
Boosey and Hawkes Voice
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 489728
for: Opera
Piano reduction
Item no.: 277649
for: String orchestra; Piano [harpsichord] ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 409155
With drooping wings, ye Cupids come
for: Women's choir (SSAA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 906668
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 188499
for: SATB, Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 321581
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
from the incidental music to Abdelazar
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 355475
from: Funeral Music for Queen Mary
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 4184
for: SATB and Orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 123413
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 187657
Edition Schott
for: 3 recorders (SSA)
Music score
Item no.: 749872
from: Funeral Music for Queen Mary
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 4554
Chacone by Mr. D Purcell für
Altblockflöte und Bc
for: HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE BLOCKFLÖTE MIT TASTENINSTRUMENT ALT-BLOCKFLÖTE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 280715
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 120847
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Treble recorder
Buch + CD
Item no.: 469393
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419503
Freely arranged for Organ
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 741899
for: Clarinet, horn, bassoon
Score, Parts
Item no.: 663405
for: 3 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 420960
for: Treble recorder, guitar
Ensemble score
Item no.: 418262
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score (facsimile)
Item no.: 771305
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 277854
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score
Item no.: 321721
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 355734
A commemorative selection of pieces
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 971792
English Solo Song Guides
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 768165
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 332601
for: Mixed choir (3 voices), organ
Score
Item no.: 982706
for: 3 soloists (ATB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929277
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), organ
Piano reduction
Item no.: 929310
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 556382
for: Continuo and String Ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 867152
for: 3 Violins, Bass Violin and BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 862509
for: Women's choir (SSAA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1039066
for: 2 voices, piano
Score
Item no.: 111708
from Dido and Aeneas
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759050
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 206469
Harmonia-Mixed Choir
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 916458
Opera in three acts
for: Opera
Study score
Item no.: 894561
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 929839
for: Mixed choir, basso continuo
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 771299
for: 2 voices, piano
Score
Item no.: 111704
for: 3 voices (TTB), Bass instrument, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 929202