“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: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 897796
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 864827
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 808016
for: Woodwind Choir
Score, Parts
Item no.: 924660
for: Concert Band/Harmonie/Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 894474
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 926647
for: 3 trumpets, 3 horns, 3 trombones
Score, Parts
Item no.: 926428
for: SATB Organ Accompaniment 2-Part Choir Continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 871905
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 322114
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 875872
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 321585
for: 2 recorders (SA)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 288239
for: 2 recorders (SA), piano [3 recorders (SAT); piano ad lib.]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 354146
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 281705
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Set of parts
Item no.: 223182
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra [organ]
Organ score
Item no.: 339696
The Recorder Orchestra
for: Recorder ensemble
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 605049
for: 2. Violine, Alt-Gambe
Stimme
Item no.: 217942
for: Blechbläserquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 820471
for: TB soli, SSATB and Organ
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041784
for: Sopran-Saxophon, Alt-Saxophone (2), Tenor-Saxophon, Bariton-Saxophon
Score, part
Item no.: 1199653
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1123206
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 276938
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 920184
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 628322
Purcell arranged by Martland for saxophone quartet
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 726050
Edition Schott
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten (Flöten, Violinen) und Klavier (Cembalo), Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 726768
Edition Schott
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 746764
for: Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Instrumental Duet
Item no.: 1638660
for voice and ensemble
for: 2 Violinen und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier, Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 747299
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594942
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Music score
Item no.: 623259
(No. 2 from "Abdelazar")
for: Sopranblockflöte (Tenorblockflöte) und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 1582233
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, organ
Score
Item no.: 311135
for: Flexible ensemble (8 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309626
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 122072
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1298351
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255790
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 355437
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 628378
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 362822
for: Concert Band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1189853
from "Dioclesian"
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier (Cembalo)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 735022
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272257
for: Flute
Instrumental Solo
Item no.: 1052890
for: 2 trumpets (C/B-flat), 2 trombones (tenor, bass) [tenor horn (B-flat), bass trombone] (quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1591
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4273
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