“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: 2 Violas and Piano
Book
Item no.: 163093
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 903869
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 646581
G minor
for: 3 Violinen (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Bass
Einzelstimme Bassi
Item no.: 781612
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 302490
for: für Blockflötenquartett und Cembalo (Klavier) Sopran
Single part
Item no.: 158999
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355581
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304561
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 956981
for: Brass ensemble
Book
Item no.: 992297
for: 2 violins
Score, Parts
Item no.: 818596
GIA Ars Antiqua
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1154882
From Playford's "Harmonica Sacra"
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 791480
for: 4 guitars (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1071659
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1138009
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 1086127
for: Women's choir, piano
Item no.: 210382
Nos. 7-10
for: 2 Violinen, Bass und Basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 737160
for: Voice (high)
Buch
Item no.: 1085678
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 1076646
GIA Evoking Sound
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1153776
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1138548
for: 3 recorders
Score, Parts
Item no.: 362589
"Welcome to all the pleasures"
for: 5 Soli, Chor, Streicher und Basso continuo
Einzelstimme Basso Continuo
Item no.: 782180
Kunzelmann Octavo Edition
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294683
for: Tuba, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 634164
for: Clarinet
Music score
Item no.: 942304
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1212170
for: 3 clarinets (trio)
Item no.: 372914
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Harpsichord (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228652
From Love's Goddess Sure Was Blind
Choir score
Item no.: 1628025
Horn
for: Horn
Music score
Item no.: 830244
Bassoon
for: Bassoon
Music score
Item no.: 829632
Violin
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 829301
Suite aus der Musik zum Sommernachtstraum
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 681691
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1647301
for voice and ensemble
for: 2 Violinen und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier, Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Einzelstimme Bassi
Item no.: 783479
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Set of parts
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for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 336186
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 834653
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 865927
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 678150
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 1006969
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Book
Item no.: 1007297
for: 2 violins
Score, Parts
Item no.: 818470
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1031994
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 336190
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