“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.
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
Z 328
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1677424
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1677441
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Choir score
Item no.: 1677437
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1677430
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 1677451
F
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1666338
Dm
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1666215
D
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1665950
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Soloists, mixed choir, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1615907
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1653923
for: Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Instrumental Duet
Item no.: 1638660
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612787
Gm
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1612695
for: Flute
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1612935
for: Clarinet
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1612934
Em
for: Piano, Oboe
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1589457
G
for: Piano, Oboe
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1589192
Geistliche Musik
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1584401
(No. 2 from "Abdelazar")
for: Sopranblockflöte (Tenorblockflöte) und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 1582233
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1582258
aus der Oper "The Indian Queen"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1565990
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 1566206
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Viola
Item no.: 1566208
Edition Schott
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Score
Item no.: 1566225
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Soloists, mixed choir, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1565814
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Cello
Item no.: 1566209
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 1566210
Edition Schott
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1566219
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 1566207
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1560144
Anthem for the coronation of James II (1685)
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 1586707
for: 3 trombones
Set of parts
Item no.: 1689939
Dm
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1553947
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1553601
for: Recorder
Instrumental Duet
Item no.: 1553168
F
for: Trumpet, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1553239
Klassik
for: Posaunenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351898
for: Gemischter Chor (SATB), Trompete, Posaunen (3) (Trompeten (2), Posaunen (2)), Orgel, [Pauke]
Score
Item no.: 1587109
Opera in a prologue and three acts
Purcell Society Edition 3
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1056857
for: Violin [flute/oboe], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1215481
for: Women's choir (SSAA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1039066
Nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 678150
Nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 678156
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1042942
Nunc dimittis
Z 230/8
for: Mixed choir (SSAATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1042891
for: Mixed choir, brass winds, organ
Score
Item no.: 1042897
for: Mixed choir (3 voices), organ
Score
Item no.: 982706
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 1031986
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