“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.
Edition Schott
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Score
Item no.: 754383
for: Tuba, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272260
for: 8 clarinets
Sheet music
Item no.: 1252649
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1052883
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1553601
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1385960
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1044372
for: Choral
Item no.: 1372533
for: SSATB, Orgel
Score
Item no.: 1338216
Kanon zu 3 Stimmen
Score
Item no.: 1338069
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
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1049253
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1386412
for: Choral
Item no.: 1523818
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1382474
Edition Schott
for: Sopran- und Alt-Blockflöte und Klavier oder 3 Blockflöten (SAT) und Klavier ad libitum
Einzelstimme Sopran- und Alt-Blockflöte
Item no.: 748653
for: 2 violins, cello
Music score
Item no.: 1548772
Edition Schott
for: Piano [harpsichord]
Music score
Item no.: 726059
Edition Schott
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Score
Item no.: 1566225
for: Trumpet, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1051644
for: Tenor saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272269
for: Clarinet, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272268
for: Vocal
Item no.: 1529924
for: Choral
Item no.: 1523755
Score
Item no.: 1338078
for: Clarinet
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1612934
for: Choral
Item no.: 1373717
Dm
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1666215
aus der der Oper "The Fairy Queen" (1692)
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), horn (F), trombone (quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1077
aus der Oper "The Fairy Queen"
for: 2 trumpets (C/B-flat), 2 trombones (tenor, bass) [tenor horn (B-flat), bass trombone] (quartet)
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1591
Purcell arranged by Martland for saxophone quartet
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 726050
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
from "Dioclesian"
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier (Cembalo)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 735022
(No. 2 from "Abdelazar")
for: Sopranblockflöte (Tenorblockflöte) und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 1582233
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: Piano
Item no.: 1523251
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 1338222
for: Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Instrumental Duet
Item no.: 1638660
for: Horn (E-flat), piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272257
for: Flute
Instrumental Solo
Item no.: 1052890
for: Violin, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1050454
Z 717
for: Organ [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3128
Hail! Bright Cecilia
for: Soli, Chor, Orchester
Study score
Item no.: 736963
Edition Schott
for: Sopran- und Alt-Blockflöte und Klavier, Tenor-Blockflöte ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 729705