“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: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1140031
for: Male choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1628167
Shawnee Press
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 823374
Alto Saxophone
for: Alto saxophone (E-flat)
Music score
Item no.: 829805
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 646455
Song for Males Voices, from Purcell's The Fairy Queen
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Score
Item no.: 1031834
from The Indian Queen Z 630/13a
for: Baritone, 2 Violins, Cello and Piano
Book
Item no.: 904807
Score and Parts
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 400861
Mag' das Schicksalsbeil des ew'gen Richters
for: Bariton und Tasteninstrument
Item no.: 355593
for: tiefe Singstimme und Streichorchester
Item no.: 355554
Bühnenmusik aus "Fairy Queen" für Streicher (statt Viola auch Violine III) und Basso continuo/ Bläser ad lib.
Hortus Musicus
for: Strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228654
nach Trumpet tune + Air
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 161725
for: Alto / Bass Voice and Piano
Book
Item no.: 155566
for: 5 trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 433543
for: Singstimme (T/B) 2 Oboen Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430935
for: 3 recorders (ATB)
Item no.: 274073
for: Viola
Item no.: 432239
for: Low Voice In G and Piano
Score
Item no.: 169712
Purcell (1659–1695)
Sonata B-Dur
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trombone 2
Item no.: 456991
Suite aus der Musik zum Sommernachtstraum
for: String orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 291563
Klassik
Choir score
Item no.: 838880
for: Mixed choir (3 voices)
Choir score
Item no.: 1032011
Prüfungsliteratur
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 169708
Score and Parts
for: Brass ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 400721
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1032012
for: Baritone saxophone
Book
Item no.: 927837
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 945009
Sonatas 7-9 (Cello/Double Bass Part)
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 882252
"Welcome to all the pleasures"
for: 5 Soli, Chor, Streicher und Basso continuo
Single part Viola
Item no.: 782182
for: gemischter Chor (SATB/SATB), Soli (SATB) und Orchester
Single part Viola
Item no.: 750693
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Single part Viola
Item no.: 784637
Single part descant recorder
Item no.: 334114
for: Blockflöte (T) Blockflöte
Single part
Item no.: 337985
for voice and ensemble
for: 2 Violinen und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier, Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 783477
for: 2 Violinen und Violoncello oder 3 Violen (Fideln)
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 793561
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 488640
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 784635
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Basso continuo (orchestral part)
Item no.: 576133
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1042942
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 1566206
for: gemischter Chor (SATB/SATB), Soli (SATB) und Orchester
Single part Kettledrum
Item no.: 738961
Welcome to All the Pleasures
for: 5 Soli, Chor, Streicher und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 782183
for: gemischter Chor (SATB/SATB), Soli (SATB) und Orchester
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 750682
Treble recorder 1 (single part)
Item no.: 555828
Single part Trumpet 2 (C)
Item no.: 488635
for: gemischter Chor (SATB/SATB), Soli (SATB) und Orchester
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 733188
for St. Cecilia's Day 1694
for: Soli, Chor, Orchester
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 750040
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