“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: Recorder ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1212452
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 1151065
for: SATB, Congregation and Organ
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1151929
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1139649
for: Blockflötenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 977707
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1137549
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1201195
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 1175262
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 960497
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 914867
for: Piccolo trumpet, organ
Item no.: 167739
for: 2 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 190162
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1653849
for: Tuba, piano
Item no.: 181446
for: 2 voices, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430932
for: 2 voices (SB), basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430926
for: 4 trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 477065
for: Trumpet, organ
Item no.: 186506
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 474549
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1132505
2 Trompeten, 2 Posaunen, Tuba
for: Brass ensemble (5 parts)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 299072
for: 2 Violins, Violoncello and Piano
Book
Item no.: 865151
2 Clarinets
for: 2 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 829406
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 456987
3 Trp, 2 Pos
Item no.: 1616545
Viola
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 829767
for: Marching band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1016372
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier (Cembalo)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1545840
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier (Cembalo)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1545121
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 159430
for: 2 TRP BLM
Score
Item no.: 580530
for: Mandolin orchestra
Score
Item no.: 649017
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 628040
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 949718
for: Viola
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 555823
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Book
Item no.: 1006425
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 336192
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Stimmensatz
Item no.: 223181
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228650
for: Voice, piano
Score
Item no.: 852218
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 819040
for: 2 Violins and Basso Continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 818113
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1713574
for: SATB, Soprano Solo and None
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1150842
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1697120
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1677441
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