“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 mixed chorus and instrument(s) score
for: Choir
Item no.: 662932
for: für Blockflötenquartett und Cembalo (Klavier) Tenor
Single part
Item no.: 185991
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228651
for: Horn, organ
Item no.: 490968
Purcell Society Edition 12
for: Solo voices, mixed choir, baroque orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 612634
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 317781
Nr. 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 und 11
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 275134
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 241456
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 161135
Musica Rara
for: TRP (1-2) STR BC
Set of parts
Item no.: 171526
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 341824
for: 5 TRP (+ PK)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 371323
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 432240
for: Tuba, piano
Item no.: 490574
from the incidental music to Abdelazar
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 355475
The Bell Anthem
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 554465
for: Organ
Music score (hardcover)
Item no.: 285100
for: Trumpet, organ
Item no.: 280895
for: Trumpet, organ
Item no.: 280893
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 122072
for: 4 BLECH
Item no.: 433542
for: Guitar
Item no.: 108027
In der Bearbeitung für Trompete und Orgel
for: Trumpet (C/D), organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 350458
The Recorder Orchestra
for: Recorder ensemble
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 605049
for: 2 Singstimmen (SB) 2 Blockflöten, Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430927
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 334116
for: TRP-C (TRP-A) ORG
Item no.: 289430
for trumpet and piano
for: Trumpet, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 633275
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, organ
Score
Item no.: 311135
for one and two Voices and Piano
for: 2 voices, piano
Piano score
Item no.: 150325
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra [organ]
Organ score
Item no.: 339696
Sacred Music Part 3 Seven Anthems (Paperback)
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 321585
Purcell Society Volume
for: SATB, Orchestra
Score
Item no.: 321581
for: ST 3 4
Item no.: 327245
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 494596
Popular Edition of selected Works 1
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 321718
for: 4 recorders (quartet)
KOPIE / PART ST
Item no.: 338295
Lawson Gould
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 345627
für Trompete & Klavier (Orgel)
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Music score
Item no.: 623259
Violine & Klavier
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594942
aus: Funeral Music of Queen Mary Nr. 2
Der Mensch, vom Weibe geboren
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 625483
for: GCH (SSATB) BC ORG
Item no.: 493466
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 488639
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 322114
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trumpet 3
Item no.: 456989
HCCS - Helbling Choral Concert Series
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 429946
for: Double bass
Music score
Item no.: 404237
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![H. Purcell: Suite, Trompete, Klavier [Orgel]](https://www.stretta-music.com/media/images2/59/32/623259.jpg)
