“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: Gemischter Chor (SATB), Trompete, Posaunen (3) (Trompeten (2), Posaunen (2)), Orgel, [Pauke]
Score
Item no.: 1587109
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 1586707
for St. Cecilia's Day 1694
for: Soli, Chor, Orchester
Piano reduction
Item no.: 756475
Möseler Chorreihe
for: Mixed choir (SSATTB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 793933
from "The Fairy Queen"
for: 4 Blockflöten (SSAB)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 748827
für Streicher, Bläser und Klavier Ensemble music 151
for: Flexible ensemble (5 parts), piano (school orchestra)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 363598
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 155570
for: Organ
Item no.: 355028
for: 2 treble recorders, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 355431
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 481703
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 901867
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 893904
for: 3 trombones
Set of parts
Item no.: 1689939
for: Unison Choir
Book
Item no.: 905271
for: Strings and Continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 866766
for: SATB and String Instruments
Choir score
Item no.: 865851
for: Posaunenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1351898
for: Voice (high), piano
Score
Item no.: 169715
for: Voice (high), piano
Score
Item no.: 169709
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 906757
for: Men's Voices
Choir score
Item no.: 905560
for: Choir
Book
Item no.: 888780
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 875487
for: Bass Voice and SATB
Choir score
Item no.: 895062
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Book
Item no.: 891705
for: Voice (tenor), piano
Book
Item no.: 880264
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1098434
for: GES-M 2 VL BC
Item no.: 120542
for: Choir
CD
Item no.: 804754
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 811502
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 322220
for: SATB Orchestra
Book
Item no.: 321576
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 223510
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 885797
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 174658
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 490501
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 321825
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 362999
for: String instrument
Music score
Item no.: 321579
for: SATB Orchestra
Book
Item no.: 893593
Ausgabe in C-Dur (transponiert)
for: Trumpet (C), organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 1672098
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 321588
for: Trumpet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 330025
for: Guitar
Score
Item no.: 238754
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 819358
for: Narrator, 4 recorders (AATB)
Score
Item no.: 582040
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Choir score
Item no.: 1677437
for: Trumpet, concert band
Conductors part (B-flat), set of parts
Item no.: 1632339
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