“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 soloists (AB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929267
for: 4 Soloists (ATBB), mixed choir (SATB), strings [organ]
Choir score
Item no.: 687727
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 869286
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 194431
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 899119
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 982862
for: 3–4 voices
Music score
Item no.: 586094
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 355556
Song
for: Sopran, 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier; Violoncello ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 782214
The Fairy Queen
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Music score
Item no.: 733515
7 Songs
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 748892
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 206473
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 680106
Coronation Anthem für Doppelchor
for: gemischter Chor (SSAATTBB), Streicher und Orgel
Partitur (= Klavierauszug)
Item no.: 748662
Ode for the Birthday of Queen Mary, 1694
for: gemischter Chor (SATB), Soli (SAAB) und Orchester
Partitur (= Klavierauszug)
Item no.: 743489
English Solo Song Guides
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 1669554
Clarendon Press
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 769557
Klassik
for: SSAATB
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 914324
for: Voice (medium), piano
Music score
Item no.: 868492
for: Soloists or Mixed Choir [SATB] and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 584354
Klassik
for: Men's Choir [TTBB] and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1105607
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
Z 328
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1677424
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1056857
for: Continuo and String Ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 867184
for: Soprano, Countertenor, Tenor, Bass Voice and SATB
Piano reduction
Item no.: 867121
for: Mixed choir (SSAATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1042891
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score
Item no.: 187719
The Tempest
for: Voice (alto/mezzo-soprano), piano
Music score
Item no.: 728679
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355591
for: Voice (low), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 355567
The Fairy Queen
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Music score
Item no.: 753664
Vocal Score and Full Score
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1682129
Continuo Anthems I
Purcell Society Edition 28
for: Voice, basso continuo
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 929225
Lehrhilfsmittel
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 971796
für Erzähler und Blockflötenquartett
for: Narrator, 4 recorders (SATB quartet); 2 voices ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 326873
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 191338
for: 3 soloists (ATB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929268
Birthday Ode for Queen Mary
for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 161667
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 916210
for: Solo voices, mixed choir, baroque orchestra
Score
Item no.: 565215
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano; trumpet ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 965274
Ode for the Birthday of Queen Mary, 1694
for: gemischter Chor (SATB), Soli (SAAB) und Orchester
Choir score
Item no.: 748682
for: 2 voices (AA) [women's choir], piano
Score
Item no.: 635795
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 879079
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 138128
for: Women's choir (SSAA), organ
Score
Item no.: 893906
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 321821
for: Singstimme und Basso continuo
Item no.: 355565