“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: 6 Instruments
Score
Item no.: 902231
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 949572
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 336189
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Book
Item no.: 1006124
for: Violin
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 555822
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1625746
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1625710
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 894591
for: 2 Trompeten, Horn, Posaune und Tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1618412
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 982806
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Timpani (orchestral part)
Item no.: 242837
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 242832
for: 2 Violins and Basso Continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 818163
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 463711
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 462467
for: gemischter Chor dreistimmig
Item no.: 1621180
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Book
Item no.: 1109890
Harmonia-Mixed Choir
for: Alto Voice
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 916707
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 931521
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1139473
for: 5 trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 433543
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1652127
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1140031
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 1175261
Klassik
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 1111290
for: SATB and Basso Continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 1109817
for: Singstimme (T/B) 2 Oboen Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430935
for: 3 recorders (ATB)
Item no.: 274073
for: Viola
Item no.: 432239
Shawnee Press
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 823374
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1032012
Purcell (1659–1695)
Sonata B-Dur
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trombone 2
Item no.: 456991
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228649
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228647
for: Alto / Bass Voice and Piano
Book
Item no.: 155566
Score and Parts
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 400861
for: Voice (low), piano
Book
Item no.: 169716
Alto Saxophone
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat)
Music score
Item no.: 829805
from The Indian Queen Z 630/13a
for: Baritone, 2 Violins, Cello and Piano
Book
Item no.: 904807
for: Mixed choir (3 voices)
Choir score
Item no.: 1032011
for: Baritone saxophone
Book
Item no.: 927837
for: String orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 291563
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 681690
for: Bariton und Tasteninstrument
Item no.: 355593
for: tiefe Singstimme und Streichorchester
Item no.: 355554
Choir score
Item no.: 838880
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