“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 choir, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 1659237
Edition Schott
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten (Flöten, Violinen) und Klavier (Cembalo), Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 726768
Z. 653
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4273
for mixed chorus and instrument(s) score
for: Choir
Item no.: 662932
Choral
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1123930
Shawnee Press
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1123206
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 930558
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077341
Klassik
for: String orchestra
Book
Item no.: 901247
für vier Gitarren bearbeitet
for: 4 guitars (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 683435
for: Horn, organ
Item no.: 490968
3 dreistimmige Fantasien (V, Va, Vc) und 4 vierstimmige Fantasien (2 V, Va, Vc)
Nagels Musik-Archiv
for: 2. Violine, Alt-Gambe
Stimme
Item no.: 217942
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Set of parts
Item no.: 223182
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
Herausgegeben vo Günter Berger
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 276938
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 341824
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 355437
for: Organ
Music score (hardcover)
Item no.: 285100
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 122072
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 281705
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
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 1338222
for: TRP-C (TRP-A) ORG
Item no.: 289430
for trumpet and piano
for: Trumpet, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 633275
for: Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Instrumental Duet
Item no.: 1638660
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1101293
O Lord God, How Many Are My Oppressors
for: TB soli, SSATB and Organ
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041784
sax culture 2
for: Sopran-Saxophon, Alt-Saxophone (2), Tenor-Saxophon, Bariton-Saxophon
Score, part
Item no.: 1199653
for: Flute
Instrumental Solo
Item no.: 1052890
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1050454
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, organ
Score
Item no.: 311135
for: Concert Band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1189853
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 940191
Trumpet Voluntary, Trumpet Tune
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 937108
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
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Choir score
Item no.: 321623
Klassik
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1184830
Klassik
for: Fanfare
Score
Item no.: 1181902
for: ST 3 4
Item no.: 327245
Geistliche Musik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 362822
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1343537
for: Bariton
Music score
Item no.: 563577
for: Flexible ensemble (8 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309626
for: 2 recorders (SA)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 288239
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