“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.: 549360
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 471832
Audio-CD
Item no.: 194347
for: BFL QUARTETT (AAAB)
Item no.: 168265
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 255830
for: 3-Part Equal Voices a Cappella
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041585
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
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for: Unison Voices and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041335
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA] and Piano
Einzelstimme
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for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1039084
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
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for: Soprano Voice, SATB a Cappella
Choir score
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for: Choir
Choir score
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for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1544999
Harmonia-Womens Choir
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 917161
for: Sopran, Bass und Klavier
Item no.: 355596
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 1031986
Harmonia Sacra
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 892563
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Score
Item no.: 1031966
for: Choir
Choir score
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for: 3 voices (STB), organ, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 862159
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1031837
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
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The Walsh Collection
for: Trumpet
Music score
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FJH Masterworks for Concert Band
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
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for: Choir
Choir score
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for: Voice, piano
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Choir score
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for: Organ
Music score
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for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
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for: Mixed choir (SATB), string orchestra
Score, Parts
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Klassik
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Einzelstimme
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for: Voice, piano
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for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Score
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for: Chor und Keyboard
Choir score
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for: Women's choir (SS), piano
Score
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for: Organ
Music score
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for: Voice (high), piano
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for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score
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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
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7 Songs
for: Voice (medium), piano
Music score
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for: Choir
Music score
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from Orpheus Britannicus
for: Voice (high), orchestra
Piano reduction
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for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 962277
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 355558
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