“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: String Ensemble Keyboard Continuo
Book
Item no.: 889610
Urtext
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 494465
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Stimmensatz
Item no.: 223181
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Set of parts
Item no.: 223182
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Stimmensatz
Item no.: 143090
for: Jazz ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1031197
from "The Golden Sonata"
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1647515
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1653923
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 341493
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score (facsimile)
Item no.: 771305
Beginning Full Orchestra
for: Youth symphony orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 496851
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day 1692
Z 328
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1677424
for: Trumpet, concert band
Conductors part (B-flat), set of parts
Item no.: 1632339
for: 4 trumpets, horn, 4 trombones, tuba, timpani
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1678156
for mixed chorus and instrument(s) score
for: Choir
Item no.: 662932
(Grade 1/2)
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 894591
Sound Innovations For String Orchestra
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 578464
Three Odes For St. Cecilia's Day (Full Score)
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 223510
Timon Of Athens (Paperback Full Score)
for: SATB Orchestra
Book
Item no.: 321576
Southern Music
for: Woodwind Choir
Score, Parts
Item no.: 924660
PERFORMERS' FACSIMILES
for: 4 melodic instruments
Ensemble score
Item no.: 647682
for: Marching band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1016372
From Dido and Aeneas
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1145189
Purcell Society Edition 23
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 631213
Purcell Society Edition 27
for: Solo voices, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 771302
Purcell Society Edition 1
for: Voice, orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 586480
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Stimmensatz
Item no.: 148246
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1089657
Klassik
for: Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 470021
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1140334
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 612960
Second Edition
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 769590
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 494468
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1642888
Dramatic Music Part 2 (Hardback Edition)
for: Voice String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 213710
Your Favorite Classics
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 887822
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1031946
(Paperback)
for: SATB Piano Accompaniment String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 586093
Sacred Music Part 6 Songs and Vocal Ensemble
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 321588
10 Sonatas Of Four Parts (Full Score)
for: String orchestra
Book
Item no.: 321580
Purcell Society Volume
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 321589
Dramatic Music Part 2 (Paperback Edition)
for: Opera Voice String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 181830
The Fairy Queen (Full Score)
for: Opera
Book
Item no.: 321583
Klassik
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1213074
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1214005
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1011898
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1187086
(Dido and Aeneas)
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1015123
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