“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.
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1139144
Brass Musik 14
for: 4 brass instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 480736
for: Voice (soprano), trumpet, basso continuo
Item no.: 644562
Kunzelmann Octavo Edition
for: String orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 294685
Edition Immer
for: GES-T (A) 2 TRP PK BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 276154
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 273618
Brass Music 23
for: 2 Trompeten, Horn, (POS), Tuba, (BASS-POS)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430899
Harmonia-Mixed Choir
for: Bass Voice
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 905300
(Dido and Aeneas)
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1015123
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 1677451
for: Trombone
Music score
Item no.: 829370
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 869267
Sonatas 1-3 (Violin 2 Part)
Single part Violin
Item no.: 892204
for: Jazz ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1031197
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 1031949
Oversized, spiral-bound score
Daehn Publications
for: Concert band
Score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 1043262
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 949446
Heft 2 (Nr. 1 - 9)
Bühnenmusik aus "Fairy Queen"
Hortus Musicus
Single part Harpsichord
Item no.: 228658
(From silent shades)
for: tiefe Singstimme und Streichorchester
Piano reduction
Item no.: 355592
Stimmt die Saiten
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355579
Die Stunde naht
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355575
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1545040
g-Moll
for: 3 Violinen (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Bass
Single part Violin 3
Item no.: 1544994
for: gemischter Chor (SAB) und Keyboard
Item no.: 1621052
for: Voice (high), piano
Score
Item no.: 169713
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 1142942
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1090228
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1193852
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1066724
for: Brass Band and Choir
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1089414
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1214005
From Dido and Aeneas
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1145189
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1590880
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 555821
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 555825
for: Alto Voice
Buch
Item no.: 1087028
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 242834
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 253368
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score
Item no.: 374932
for: 4 Singstimmen (SATB), Streicher, Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430879
for: String orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1139740
Musica Rara
for: 2 trumpets, piano
Item no.: 335417
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 335246
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1653848
from Welcome to All the Pleasures
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 928247
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 849312
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