“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.: 1203333
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 1041681
Sonatas IV-VI
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 893494
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA] and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041765
for: 2 Flutes or AA or AT Recorders and Continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1040775
Sonatas X-XII
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 907795
for: Trumpet, organ
Buch
Item no.: 198856
Choral
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1656815
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1044372
for: 2 Singstimmen (SB), 2 Violinen, Basso continuo
Item no.: 476599
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1553601
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 876534
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 172084
for: Mixed choir, piano
Item no.: 120565
3 Pieces for Guitar
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1022535
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1052883
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 235639
Flute & Klavier (Organ)
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594929
for: 8 clarinets
Sheet music
Item no.: 1252649
Blasorchester
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 588344
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272260
for: Voice (soprano), trumpet, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 268530
Contemporary
for: 8 saxophones (SSAATTBarBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 779332
Das Chorwerk
for: Mixed choir (5–6 parts) a cappella
Item no.: 409607
Ausgabe für Männerchor a cappella
HCCS - Helbling Choral Concert Series
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 429873
für gemischten Chor und Basso continuo
for: Mixed choir, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 365292
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1385960
Incidental music for strings
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 214483
for: Choral
Item no.: 1372533
Möseler Chorreihe
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 166046
for: 3 recorders (SSA)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 696283
for: für Violine und Klavier
Item no.: 113611
for: Organ
Item no.: 355027
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Choir score
Item no.: 354433
for: 3 recorders (SSA)
Item no.: 108183
for: SSATB, Orgel
Score
Item no.: 1338216
Score
Item no.: 1338069
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304560
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 609733
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 870870
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 910037
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 904138
for: Voice, Harpsichord and Continuo
Book
Item no.: 861952
for: 4 trumpets, horn, 4 trombones, tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 966778
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Book
Item no.: 903338
for: Choir
Book
Item no.: 895613
Score
Item no.: 882029
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