“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: Voice, Organ and Continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 553902
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 815075
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 322133
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 120849
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 897145
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Score
Item no.: 281708
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score
Item no.: 660008
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 419704
for: 3 trumpets, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1631816
for: Male choir (TTBB), organ [orchestra]
Organ score
Item no.: 248032
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1711523
for: 2 trumpets, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1688103
for: BFL QUARTETT (AAAB)
Item no.: 1658238
Trompete (2), Horn, Posaune, Tuba
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 644454
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1642888
Music for the King's Trumpeter
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 1632565
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 1041419
Zeitschrift für Spielmusik
for: Blockflötenquartett (SATGB / SATB) (Basso continuo ad. lib.)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 143571
F
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1666338
G
for: Piano, Oboe
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1589192
from "The Indian Queen"
The Brass Press
for: Trumpet, organ [piano]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 462195
for: BFL QUARTETT (AAAB)
Item no.: 168263
GIA Ars Antiqua
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1158249
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 479470
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 346848
Musica Sacra
for: Gemischter Chor 4 TRP, Pauken, Orgel
Score, Parts
Item no.: 473401
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: VDG (3-7)
Study score
Item no.: 392442
STRINGS COLLECTION
for: Double bass, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594947
Eb Bass & Klavier (Organ)
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594941
for: 4 recorders (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 428563
for: Bassoon
Instrumental Solo
Item no.: 1050609
for: Trumpet, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1560241
for: Flute
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1612935
for: 2 baritone horns, 2 euphoniums, 4 tubas
Sheet music
Item no.: 1252437
for: Brass quintet
Sheet music
Item no.: 1265839
Hinshaw Sacred
for: SATB, Keyboard Optional
Choir score
Item no.: 1057639
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272276
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272274
Ausgabe für 3 gleiche Stimmen a cappella
HCCS - Helbling Choral Concert Series
for: Women's choir (SSA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 445707
Goodmusic Concert Classics
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 951540
for: Vocal
Item no.: 1529979
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1381983
Die Musikbibliothek der Inspirationen Heft 04/2020
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 778606
Schriftenreihe "Die Oper" über musikalische Bühnenwerke
Teachers book
Item no.: 106918
for: Mixed choir (SAB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 907338
for: Mixed choir (SAB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 906493
for: Trumpet (B-flat/C), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404312
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 934663
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