“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.
5 Pieces: Prelude, Air, Rigaudon, Menuet, Marche
for: 3 guitars
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1073044
for soprano and mixed chorus
for: Solo voice (soprano), mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 648829
for: 4 String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 461341
for: Flute, guitar
Buch
Item no.: 311775
for: Mixed choir, brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1315785
Edition Immer
Reihe IV: Werke mit Gesang
for: Voice (soprano), 2 trumpets, timpani, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 276155
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones (brass quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 173879
Klassik
for: 5 guitars
Buch
Item no.: 270348
for: Trumpet, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1051009
for: Violin
Instrumental Solo
Item no.: 1050700
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1562181
from "Abdelazer" and "The Double Dealer"
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 671685
for: Flexible ensemble (8 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1252985
Festive Brass
for: 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani
Score, Parts
Item no.: 597875
Brass Band
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 595466
Bass Posaune & Klavier
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594939
Für Trompete und Orgel
for: Trumpet, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 291560
for: SSATB, SSATB, Soli a Cappella
Book
Item no.: 899662
for: Piano
Single edition
Item no.: 938769
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 936021
Klarinette & Klavier (Organ)
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594931
Performers' Facsimiles 134
for: Harpsichord
Item no.: 364615
Fie, Nay, Prithee, John and Under This Stone Lies Gabriel John)
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 743543
for: Baroque ensemble
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929273
for: 3 Violinen (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Bass
Partitur und Stimmen
Item no.: 101624
for: Blechbläserquintett und Orgel
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996715
F
for: Trumpet, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1553239
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 925285
for: Alto and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 888522
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Book
Item no.: 910654
for: Opera
Book
Item no.: 898701
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 895413
for: Brass ensemble (8 voices)
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 966671
for: Soprano & tenor Voices, 2 alto Recorders and BC
Score
Item no.: 473789
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Score
Item no.: 432236
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 947391
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 900213
for: SATB, String Instruments and Basso Continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 864367
for: SATB and String Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 862182
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 336194
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 871935
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 644956
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 777269
for: 4 flutes (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 662379
Piano reduction
Item no.: 166253
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 198869
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1631777
for: 2 trumpets [oboes]
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 1952
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