“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: Two-Part Treble Voices [SS] and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1037635
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 899041
Két régi angol kánon
for: Men's choir [women's chori] (3 equal voices ) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 822657
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 963602
Klassik
for: Organ Accompaniment Continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 898336
in Score Form)
for: String Instruments SATB Piano Accompaniment
Choir score
Item no.: 877725
for: 4 Blockflöten (SATB) oder 3 Blockflöten (SAT); Klavier ad libitum
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1546363
for Saxophone Quartet
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 877775
Floreat Musicae No.1
for: Brass Quintet [With 2 Timpani Ad Lib.]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 819148
Catches (Cloth Bound)
for: Unison Choir
Book
Item no.: 887550
The Organist's Library 41
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 971696
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Book
Item no.: 900106
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 894211
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 867671
Choral
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1126173
for: Trumpet, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1051644
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272269
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272268
for: Vocal
Item no.: 1529924
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 903866
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 479471
nach Cembalostücken
bearbeitet von Karl H. Pillney
for: Recorder, violin, cello
Set of parts
Item no.: 130161
for: Soprano / Alto Recorder
Buch
Item no.: 445627
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 169718
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 155571
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 164791
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
12 Sonaten
Diletto Musicale – Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304586
Z 780
for: Violin, basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 286882
for: 3 Blockflöten (AAB)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 446885
Bearbeitung für Streichquartett
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 374929
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 482147
Klassik
for: Harpsichord
Buch
Item no.: 280070
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594937
Blasorchester
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 588494
für Tuba und Klavier
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594943
Alto Posaune & Klavier (Organ)
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594940
for: Choral
Item no.: 1523755
Festival Choral
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 803698
and all that is within me Z47
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 628323
Score
Item no.: 1338078
for: Clarinet
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1612934
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 341215
for: Choral
Item no.: 1373717
Dm
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1666215
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