“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: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 628322
1691
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 916339
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Book
Item no.: 964791
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1078159
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1582258
C
for: Piano
Easy Piano
Item no.: 1044263
für Trompete und Orgel
Basso continuo (Violoncello und Fagott oder Posaune) ad libitum
for: Trumpet, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 346532
for: 3 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413698
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), trombone, tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 479472
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316022
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 594938
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272262
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316824
Piano, Timpani, Glockenspiel, Snare Drum optional
for: 8 saxophones (octet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309276
Transcribd for Trumpet (Tenor Saxophone) and Piano
for: Trumpet (B-flat) [tenor saxophone], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 245425
Hinshaw Concert
for: SATB, Solo, Keyboard
Choir score
Item no.: 1058011
Mark Foster
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1123926
for: Voice, piano
Piano score
Item no.: 660923
"Fie, Nay, Prithee, John" and "Under This Stone Lies Gabriel John"
for: Clarinet, piano
Music score
Item no.: 730332
Ausgabe in B-Dur (transponiert)
for: Trumpet, organ
Organ score, Parts
Item no.: 646032
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 940023
"Three parts upon a ground"
Reihe Collegium Musicum – Kölner Reihe Alter Musik
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 763276
Doppelnummer mit "Trumpet Tune and Air"
for: Concert band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 671688
for: Horn (F), organ [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272275
for: 2 treble recorders, 2 violins, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 771303
Hail! Bright Cecilia
for: Soli, Chor, Orchester
Study score
Item no.: 736963
for: Mixed Choir [SATB] and Ensemble
Choir score
Item no.: 862165
for: 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 689284
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 355680
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 355576
for: Sopran- und Alt-Blockflöte und Klavier oder 3 Blockflöten (SAT) und Klavier ad libitum
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 354167
Purcell elaborated and arranged for brass quintet
for: Blechbläser-Quintett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 760925
for: 2 Trumpets and Piano
Book
Item no.: 995435
for: Flexible Woodwind Ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 995198
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1098201
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1098134
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 430323
for: Alto Bass Voice Piano Accompaniment Continuo
Book
Item no.: 900705
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 907848
for: Voice, Harpsichord and Continuo
Book
Item no.: 861957
for: Alto SATB Continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 894109
for: Voice Harpsichord Accompaniment
Book
Item no.: 880324
for: Organ
Score
Item no.: 293384
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 631213
for: Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 470021
for: Orchestra, Ensemble, String Orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 280088
for: Orchestra, Ensemble, String Orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 280087
for: Organ [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3128
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