“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.
Choir score
Item no.: 838509
for: Low Voice In G and Piano
Score
Item no.: 169712
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 945009
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Score
Item no.: 1031834
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 882252
for: Brass ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 400721
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 646455
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 169708
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1625704
for: Male choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1628167
for: Strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228654
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 161725
for: Trumpet or Trombone and Piano
Book
Item no.: 818879
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 678161
Single part descant recorder
Item no.: 334114
for: Blockflöte (T) Blockflöte
Single part
Item no.: 337985
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 488640
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 1566206
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1042942
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Basso continuo (orchestral part)
Item no.: 576133
Treble recorder 1 (single part)
Item no.: 555828
Single part Trumpet 2 (C)
Item no.: 488635
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355349
Single part Trumpet 2 (C)
Item no.: 432242
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 432238
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 555829
Incidental music for strings
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672645
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Viola
Item no.: 1566208
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355348
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 432237
Incidental music for strings
for: String orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672646
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 555831
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355347
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 432240
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 488639
for: 2 Violinen und Bass mit Generalbass
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 1545043
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 784639
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Cello
Item no.: 1566209
Single part Trumpet 1 (C)
Item no.: 432241
Single part Trumpet 2
Item no.: 555832
Eine Sammlung alter Musik
for: 2 Violinen und Bass mit Generalbass
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 783473
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 1566210
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 488638
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Treble recorder (single part)
Item no.: 644979
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355346
Incidental music for strings
for: String orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672647
Incidental music for strings
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 648146
for: Blockflöte (S) Blockflöte (A)
Single part
Item no.: 337983
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
There is a separate Stretta website for the country Worldwide. If your order is to be delivered to this country, you can switch, so that delivery times and shipping conditions are displayed correctly. Your shopping cart and your customer account will remain the same.
switch to Stretta Music Worldwide
stay on Stretta Music Denmark
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
