“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: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210633
Edition Schott
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 748798
for: Voice, piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1612787
for: Chor SA, Orgel o Klavier
Score
Item no.: 1339972
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272273
for: Flute, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272266
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272261
for: 8 saxophones (octet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1252632
for: 8 bassoons
Sheet music
Item no.: 1252299
from: Abdelazer Suite, Z. 570
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 760536
Dm
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1553947
Gm
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1612695
The Prince of Denmarks March
(Version in B- und D-Dur)
for: 3 trumpets, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1631816
for: Violin, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272265
for: Bass trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272259
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272258
G minor
for: 3 Violinen (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Bass
Partitur und Stimmen Partitur, 1 Violine 1, 1 Violine 2, 1 Violine 3, 1 Bass
Item no.: 728724
from: „The Fairy Queen“
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 722271
Edition Schott
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 744383
Purcell arranged by Martland for trombone quartet
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 756263
Möseler Chorreihe
for: Mixed choir (SSATTB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 793933
from "The Fairy Queen"
for: 4 Blockflöten (SSAB)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 748827
Edition Schott
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748774
F
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1666338
G
for: Piano, Oboe
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1589192
for St. Cecilia's Day 1694
for: Soli, Chor, Orchester
Piano reduction
Item no.: 756475
for: Bassoon
Instrumental Solo
Item no.: 1050609
for: Flute
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1612935
for: Gemischter Chor (SATB), Trompete, Posaunen (3) (Trompeten (2), Posaunen (2)), Orgel, [Pauke]
Score
Item no.: 1587109
Anthem for the coronation of James II (1685)
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 1586707
for: 2 baritone horns, 2 euphoniums, 4 tubas
Sheet music
Item no.: 1252437
for: Brass quintet
Sheet music
Item no.: 1265839
for: Trumpet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272276
for: Trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272274
The Prince of Denmarks Marsch
(Version in B- und D-Dur)
for: Trumpet (C), organ
Score, part
Item no.: 1631829
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4782
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Music score
Item no.: 738399
Edition Schott
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 754383
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1052883
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1553601
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1044372
for: SSATB, Orgel
Score
Item no.: 1338216
Kanon zu 3 Stimmen
Score
Item no.: 1338069
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272260
for: 8 clarinets
Sheet music
Item no.: 1252649
Edition Schott
for: 2 Violinen und Violoncello oder 3 Violen (Fideln)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 747297
from "The Double Dealer"
Z. T676
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4109
from the "Fantazias and In Nomines" for Strings
for: 4 Gitarren oder Gitarrenensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 735575
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