“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 [SA] and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039539
(from „Dido and Aeneas“)
for: Männerchor (S Solo, TTBB a cappella)
Music score
Item no.: 738474
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 1039275
Treasury Choral
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 807184
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 1566207
Möseler Chorreihe
for: Mixed choir (SSAATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 781792
for: 2 Violinen und Violoncello oder 3 Violen (Fideln)
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 793560
for: Unison Voices and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041335
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA] and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039212
Geistliche Musik
for: 3-Part Equal Voices a Cappella
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041585
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 1038639
Single part descant recorder
Item no.: 334114
for: Blockflöte (T) Blockflöte
Single part
Item no.: 337985
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1032002
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 456987
from "Ye Tuneful Muses"
Z. T681
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4117
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trumpet 2
Item no.: 456988
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trumpet 3
Item no.: 456989
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 334116
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 335246
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trombone 1
Item no.: 456990
for: Blockflöte (S) Blockflöte (A)
Single part
Item no.: 337983
Purcell (1659–1695)
Sonata B-Dur
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trombone 2
Item no.: 456991
Treble recorder (single part)
Item no.: 334115
for: Choral
Item no.: 1375683
for: SSATB, Orgel
Score
Item no.: 1338216
for: Choral
Item no.: 1374278
for: Choral
Item no.: 1375885
for: SA and Keyboard
Piano reduction
Item no.: 909902
aus "Dioclesian"
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier (Cembalo)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1545121
aus "Dioclesian"
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier (Cembalo)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1545840
for: Choral
Item no.: 1523847
for: Choral
Item no.: 1523756
for: Choral
Item no.: 1376877
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1544999
for: Choral
Item no.: 1523818
for: Choral
Item no.: 1523755
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1546003
Treasury Choral
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 808016
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Treble recorder (single part)
Item no.: 644979
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1545040
Discovery Choral
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 807720
for: Choral
Item no.: 1523817
for: Chor SA, Orgel o Klavier
Score
Item no.: 1339972
Score
Item no.: 1338078
aus: Funeral Music of Queen Mary Nr. 2
Der Mensch, vom Weibe geboren
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 625483
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1085569
for: Voice, piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1085564
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