“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: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 255790
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 321585
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 276938
from "Dioclesian"
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier (Cembalo)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 735022
for voice and ensemble
for: 2 Violinen und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier, Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 747299
Edition Schott
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 746764
(No. 2 from "Abdelazar")
for: Sopranblockflöte (Tenorblockflöte) und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 1582233
for: Woodwind Choir
Score, Parts
Item no.: 924660
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 920184
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 926647
for: 3 trumpets, 3 horns, 3 trombones
Score, Parts
Item no.: 926428
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 628378
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 628322
Edition Schott
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten (Flöten, Violinen) und Klavier (Cembalo), Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 726768
Purcell arranged by Martland for saxophone quartet
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 726050
for: gemischter Chor (SATB), Soli (SAATBB) und Orchester
Choir score
Item no.: 354330
for: 2 recorders (SA), piano [3 recorders (SAT); piano ad lib.]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 354146
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 355437
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 281705
for: 2 recorders (SA)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 288239
for: Blechbläserquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996452
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Set of parts
Item no.: 223182
for: 4 Trumpets, Organ and Timpani
Score, Parts
Item no.: 627732
for: Voice
Buch
Item no.: 1085684
Geistliche Musik
for: Women's choir (SSA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 904612
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA] and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039539
1691
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 916339
for 3 Violins and Basso Continuo
Z 752
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 2741
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Book
Item no.: 964791
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1078159
for: TTBB Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039519
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 1582258
Z 717
for: Organ [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3128
C
for: Piano
Easy Piano
Item no.: 1044263
in C, Z 666
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 2069
für Trompete und Orgel
Basso continuo (Violoncello und Fagott oder Posaune) ad libitum
for: Trumpet, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 346532
for: 3 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 413698
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA], Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1040704
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), trombone, tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 479472
for: 2 treble recorders, piano
Piano score, ensemble score
Item no.: 418893
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316022
for: Euphonium, piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part (treble and bass clef)
Item no.: 594938
for: Oboe, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272262
Henry Leck Creating Artistry
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 799141
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1316824
Piano, Timpani, Glockenspiel, Snare Drum optional
for: 8 saxophones (octet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309276
Transcribd for Trumpet (Tenor Saxophone) and Piano
for: Trumpet (B-flat) [tenor saxophone], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 245425
Discovery Choral
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 807720
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