“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.
Edition Schott
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 748863
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 629864
for: Guitar
Item no.: 393790
Suite for Strings
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 109020
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 893429
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 892489
for: Bass Voice and Piano
Book
Item no.: 898677
for: SSAA , Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 907884
for: Recorders [SAT]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 905574
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 899581
for: String Quartet and Double Bass
Set of parts
Item no.: 862492
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 910315
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 895832
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones (quartet)
Score
Item no.: 562224
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996536
for: Soli, Chor, Orchester
Piano reduction
Item no.: 354257
for: Guitar
Item no.: 355519
for: SATB and String Ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 862206
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Book
Item no.: 906000
for: Voice and Continuo
Book
Item no.: 888612
for: String Ensemble Keyboard Continuo
Book
Item no.: 867603
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Score
Item no.: 119868
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 897038
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 886857
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 882194
for: Choir
Book
Item no.: 871815
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Book
Item no.: 892975
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Item no.: 288932
for: Brass ensemble (8 voices)
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 966824
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra [organ]
Choir score
Item no.: 180163
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 555782
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 210217
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 171525
for: Brass ensemble (5 parts)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 583593
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4230
Fagott & Klavier (Organ)
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594932
for: Flexible wind ensemble (5 voices)
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 471468
for: Voice Harpsichord Accompaniment
Book
Item no.: 321736
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Book
Item no.: 873928
for: SATB Piano Accompaniment String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 586093
for: Soprano Bass Voice Countertenor SATB Organ Accompaniment
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 461471
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 316700
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 335545
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 122076
for: 4 Blockflöten (SATB) oder 3 Blockflöten (SAT); Klavier ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 354685
for: 4 trumpets, horn, 4 trombones, tuba, timpani
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1678156
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077765
2 Rounds in 3 Parts
for: Instrumental Parts
Set of parts
Item no.: 1040166
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