“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.
Operea in three acts
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 342930
Ausgabe in drei verschiedenen Tonlagen: g-Moll / f-Moll / e-Moll
for: Voice (high/medium/low), piano
Music score
Item no.: 613999
Oper/Operette
for: Opera
Piano reduction
Item no.: 277649
Boosey and Hawkes Voice
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 489728
Spielmusik zum Trauerspiel
for: String orchestra; Piano [harpsichord] ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 409155
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304591
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304589
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1681995
Kingfisher Brass
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 971739
Geistliche Musik
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1584401
A Royal Welcome Song
for soloists (CtCtTTBB), mixed chorus (SATB), strings and Bc
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 672415
for: Voices
Choir score
Item no.: 374085
Sacred Music Part I
Purcell Society Edition 13
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 771298
Novello New Choral Engravings
for: Mixed choir (SSAATTBB), organ
Score
Item no.: 322164
for: Choir
Score
Item no.: 888894
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Item no.: 887597
for: 2 Voices [High/Medium] and Piano
Book
Item no.: 604162
Krönungsanthem für James II.
for: gemischter Chor (SSAATTBB), Streicher und Orgel
Partitur
Item no.: 354260
9 Songs for low voice and keyboard
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score
Item no.: 355566
from "Ode for the Birthday of Queen Mary"
for: Sopran, Oboe und Klavier
Item no.: 644765
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Soloists, mixed choir, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1565814
Opera
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392125
STRINGS COLLECTION
for: Double bass, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1668223
The Prince of Denmarks March
(Version in B- und D-Dur)
for: 3 trumpets, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781252
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SS] and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1037635
The Organist's Library 41
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 971696
Choral
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1126173
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 479471
for: Soprano / Alto Recorder
Buch
Item no.: 445627
Edition Vieweg (Musikschätze vergangener Zeiten)
for: 2 violins, cello, harpsichord [piano]
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 156009
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Women's choir (SSA), organ [piano]
Choir score
Item no.: 271944
Clas N028-Orgue
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 239984
Bearbeitung für Streichquartett
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 374929
Klassik
for: Harpsichord
Buch
Item no.: 280070
Piano reduction
Item no.: 476181
Klassik
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 858704
Klassik
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 891696
for mixed chorus and organ
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 368514
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1190365
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1187086
Klassik
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 321140
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 292645
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 341215
Song For The Duke Of Gloucester's Birthday 1695 (Full Score)
for: Opera
Book
Item no.: 321578
Dramatic Music Part 1 (Full Score)
for: SATB Orchestra
Book
Item no.: 472754
Klassik
for: Cello
Music score
Item no.: 336191
für Tuba und Klavier
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594943
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