“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: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 971669
for: Chor und Keyboard
Choir score
Item no.: 1643105
for: Women's choir (SS), piano
Score
Item no.: 1032008
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355568
for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 672641
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 1031967
Harmonia-Mixed Choir
for: Mixed choir (SSATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 913476
Folk
for: SAATB
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 908285
7 Songs
for: Voice (medium), piano
Music score
Item no.: 198557
for: Choir
Music score
Item no.: 1031832
from Orpheus Britannicus
for: Voice (high), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 867832
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 962277
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 355558
for: Frauenchor und Klavier
Choir score
Item no.: 1627700
Upon a Quiet Conscience
for: 3 voices (STB), organ, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 1653031
Harmonia Sacra
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 901782
for: Singstimmen (SB) und Klavier
Item no.: 355597
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355570
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 355553
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 1031970
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 982895
for: Voice (medium), piano
Music score
Item no.: 893291
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 959581
for: Tubaquartett
Book
Item no.: 1145019
Solo-Konzert
for: Brass Band and Cornet[s]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1143833
for: String orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1077024
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1141487
Solo-Konzert
for: Brass Band and Cornet[s]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1144201
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Buch
Item no.: 1141794
for: High-Medium Voice and Piano
Book
Item no.: 1349847
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1105617
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1540527
for: 8 trombones
Item no.: 576765
for: Guitar
Item no.: 329672
Moine Bourru Mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1139902
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 184704
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1089658
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 978629
for: Horn
Music score
Item no.: 829509
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat)
Music score
Item no.: 829461
PERFORMERS' FACSIMILES
for: 4 melodic instruments
Ensemble score
Item no.: 647682
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1628329
for: 3 Violinen (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Bass
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 1545858
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1006451
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 336196
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 341493
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 355584
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