“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: Concert Band/Harmonie/Fanfare/Brass Band
Score
Item no.: 478293
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 894309
for: Guitar [lute]
Music score
Item no.: 194206
for: Chor und Keyboard
Choir score
Item no.: 1625653
for: Chor und Keyboard
Choir score
Item no.: 1625606
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1007570
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 242836
for: Male choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1342059
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 462466
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 255122
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Stimmensatz
Item no.: 148246
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1690857
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1090297
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1141125
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1085569
for: Trombone, piano
Item no.: 294428
Book
Item no.: 303054
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Item no.: 446532
Ensemble Music For Recorders
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 311048
String Ensemble
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 829009
for: Organ [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 1202009
from "The Golden Sonata"
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1647515
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1653923
Prüfungsliteratur
for: Viola, piano
Buch
Item no.: 432215
for: Viola, piano
Book
Item no.: 163092
for: Oboe
Music score
Item no.: 829920
Cello
for: Cello
Book
Item no.: 829082
for: 2 voices (SB), basso continuo
Item no.: 476113
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1032002
from the Birthday Ode to Queen Mary - April 30, 1694
Choir score
Item no.: 1627836
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1212001
for: Timpani
Item no.: 555833
Air From "Dido and Aeneas"
for: Trumpet, piano
Item no.: 1622714
for: 2 trumpets, piano
Item no.: 153866
for: String orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 291565
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1647514
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 948364
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1140334
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 336195
for: Chamber Group Bass Voice SATB
Choir score
Item no.: 911018
Score
Item no.: 1006107
Single part (Trumpet solo)
Item no.: 161028
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 956293
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1213074
Single part Viola
Item no.: 228656
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