“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: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 899119
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 982862
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 869286
Opera in three acts
for: Opera
Study score
Item no.: 894561
"Welcome to all the pleasures"
für 5 Solostimmen, Chor, Streicher und Basso continuo
for: 5 soloists (SSATB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 680106
5 songs and a duet for high voice(s) and keyboard
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 206473
Purcell Society Volume 22A
for: 3–4 voices
Music score
Item no.: 586094
Purcell Society Volume 24
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 194431
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 355556
Ode for the Birthday of Queen Mary, 1694
for: gemischter Chor (SATB), Soli (SAAB) und Orchester
Partitur (= Klavierauszug)
Item no.: 743489
Sacred Music V
Purcell Society Edition 29
for: Mixed choir, basso continuo
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 771299
Orch.
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 929839
for: 4 Soloists (ATBB), mixed choir (SATB), strings [organ]
Choir score
Item no.: 687727
for: 2 voices, piano
Score
Item no.: 111704
The Tempest
for: Voice (alto/mezzo-soprano), piano
Music score
Item no.: 728679
English Solo Song Guides
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 1669554
Klassik
for: SSAATB
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 914324
Klassik
for: Men's Choir [TTBB] and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1105607
The Fairy Queen
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Music score
Item no.: 753664
Parts
for: Continuo and String Ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 867184
for: Voice (medium), piano
Music score
Item no.: 868492
(from silent shades)
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355591
for low voice and piano
for: Voice (low), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 355567
8 Songs for low voice and keyboard
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score
Item no.: 187719
Nunc dimittis
Z 230/8
for: Mixed choir (SSAATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1042891
for: Soprano, Countertenor, Tenor, Bass Voice and SATB
Piano reduction
Item no.: 867121
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
Z 328
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1677424
Opera in a prologue and three acts
Purcell Society Edition 3
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1056857
Clarendon Press
Book (Hardcover)
Item no.: 769557
for: Soloists or Mixed Choir [SATB] and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 584354
Ode for the Birthday of Queen Mary, 1694
for: gemischter Chor (SATB), Soli (SAAB) und Orchester
Choir score
Item no.: 748682
Vocal Score and Full Score
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1682129
for: 3 soloists (ATB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929268
Harmonia-Womens Choir
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 916210
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 879079
Brookfield Easter Choral
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano; trumpet ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 965274
Lehrhilfsmittel
for: Viola
Music score
Item no.: 971796
Continuo Anthems I
Purcell Society Edition 28
for: Voice, basso continuo
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 929225
for: 2 voices (AA) [women's choir], piano
Score
Item no.: 635795
für Erzähler und Blockflötenquartett
for: Narrator, 4 recorders (SATB quartet); 2 voices ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 326873
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 321821
Reconstructed by Rebecca Herissone
for: Solo voices, mixed choir, baroque orchestra
Score
Item no.: 565215
(First Setting)Z. 379A
for: Singstimme und Basso continuo
Item no.: 355565
for: Women's choir (SSAA), organ
Score
Item no.: 893906
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 191338
Signature Series (ABRSM)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 138128
Birthday Ode for Queen Mary
for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 161667
9 Songs
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score
Item no.: 752319
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