“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.
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1139425
Moine Bourru Mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1140714
for: String orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1078146
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 1175263
for: Voice, piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1085564
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1089657
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1140255
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1140390
for: GES ABFL (VL) BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 581067
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1141684
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 977714
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 374931
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 487454
from Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1109376
for: Viola, piano
Book
Item no.: 1203726
Orange Mécanique
for: Concert Band/Harmonie and Choir
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1089413
Wind Quartet
for: Bläserquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 829474
Trumpet
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 830341
Oboe and Bassoon
for: Oboe and Bassoon
Score, Parts
Item no.: 829585
for: Lead Sheet
Item no.: 1360030
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1015333
Bands Alive! QMB 453
for: Symphonic Band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 896607
Words anon. from The Fairy Queen Z 629/22
for: Contralto, Tenor and Piano
Book
Item no.: 888478
for: 4 TRP (+ KLAV)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 367427
for: 3 Violinen (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Bass
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 1545259
for: für Streichorchester
Partitur
Item no.: 1135162
for: Accordion orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 374280
for: Voice (high), piano
Score
Item no.: 169711
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 291108
for: Brass band
Score
Item no.: 978628
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 951591
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 949445
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 488637
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1618232
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392264
for: Strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228653
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1625575
for: ATB, SATB and String Ensemble
Choir score
Item no.: 865242
for: 2 Violoncelli and Piano
Book
Item no.: 163740
for: Choir
Item no.: 1621002
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1651522
for: 2 Trumpets and 2 Trombones
Buch
Item no.: 1140021
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1137879
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1141692
Klassik
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 982784
Harmonia-Mixed Choir
for: Voice (soprano)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 917174
Moine Bourru Mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1138659
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