“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: Soprano Tenor Piano Accompaniment
Book
Item no.: 905586
for: Strings
Score
Item no.: 877118
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 120521
for: Strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 120848
for: String Quartet Piano Accompaniment
Book
Item no.: 876564
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 894170
for: Voice, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 864020
for: Tenor Bass Voice SATB
Choir score
Item no.: 887518
for: Voice Violin Viola Cello Harpsichord Accompaniment
Book
Item no.: 910599
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 867412
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score
Item no.: 963703
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 810705
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 355465
for: Trumpet (C), organ
Score, part
Item no.: 1631829
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 883664
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 322222
for: Mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Book
Item no.: 880116
for: Organ Organ Accompaniment Harpsichord
Book
Item no.: 630410
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 900208
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 322115
for: String Instruments Organ Accompaniment
Score, Parts
Item no.: 869806
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4782
for: String orchestra
Book
Item no.: 321580
for: Narrator, 4 recorders (AATB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 266300
for: Recorder ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 199669
for: Cello, Bass-Gambe
Stimme
Item no.: 217944
for: String orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 159836
for: Recorders [SATB]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1040072
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1037749
from the "Fantazias and In Nomines" for Strings
for: 4 Gitarren oder Gitarrenensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 735575
for: Handbells
Buch
Item no.: 916529
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1078123
Masterpiece Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 972486
Alto Saxophone & Klavier (Organ)
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1668224
for: PICC-TRP (C/D/A) ORG
Item no.: 187140
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1049253
Trompete (2), Horn, Posaune, Tuba
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 644425
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1076966
for: Flute ensemble
Book
Item no.: 1329659
Gitarrenkammermusik Fuer Den Unterricht
for: 5 guitars
Item no.: 190311
Viola & Klavier (Organ)
for: Viola, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594945
Bb Bass & Klavier (Organ)
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594944
Oboe & Klavier (Organ)
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594930
Three English Grounds
for: 1 und 2. Alt-Blockflöte, Basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1108085
Fünf kleine geistliche Stücke
Ab Quartett spielbar!
for: Brass ensemble (4 voices) [brass band / flexible wind orchestra]
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1673141
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 328058
© 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.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
Worldwide
