“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.
From 'The Libertine'
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 885521
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1138544
Frauenchor und Keyboard
Chorpartitur
for: Frauenchor und Keyboard
Choir score
Item no.: 880165
for: Bassoon
Music score
Item no.: 829458
Klassik
for: Vocal Duet
Book
Item no.: 1006947
Walton Choral
for: Mixed choir (SSATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 985660
for: 2 Trumpets and 2 Trombones
Buch
Item no.: 1140021
Trombone
for: Trombone
Music score
Item no.: 830328
Flute
for: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 829166
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1137879
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1141692
Klassik
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 982784
Harmonia-Mixed Choir
for: Voice (soprano)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 917174
Clarinet
for: Clarinet
Music score
Item no.: 829126
for: Blockflöte
Book
Item no.: 829487
Feierliche Musik
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 890513
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 897853
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1651522
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 1153939
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1621226
Klassik
for: Voice, Organ and Continuo
Book
Item no.: 896844
Tuba
for: Tuba
Music score
Item no.: 830343
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1032004
Klassik
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 1005391
Moine Bourru Mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1138659
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304564
for: Trumpet, organ
Score, Parts
Item no.: 314767
Brass Quartet
for: Blechbläserquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 829995
PERFORMERS' FACSIMILES
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 647671
Heft 2 (Nr. 1 - 9)
Bühnenmusik aus "Fairy Queen"
Hortus Musicus
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 228657
Nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 678156
for: 2 voices (SB), basso continuo
Item no.: 476114
for: Trumpet
Item no.: 340287
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trumpet 2
Item no.: 456988
Performers' Facsimiles
for: 4 INST (VDG)
Faksimile (Stimme)
Item no.: 336232
Mein Leid und alle Qualen
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355577
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355574
5 Songs
for: Voice (medium), piano
Music score
Item no.: 910456
for: Brass Instrument
Book
Item no.: 1343268
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1011898
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 155572
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355349
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 555829
Single part Trumpet 2 (C)
Item no.: 432242
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 432238
"Siehe, ich verkündige euch große Freude" (Luk. 2, 10, 14)
for: gemischter Chor (SATB), Soli (TTB oder SSB), Streicher und Basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 243229
"Siehe, ich verkündige euch große Freude" (Luk. 2, 10, 14)
for: gemischter Chor (SATB), Soli (TTB oder SSB), Streicher und Basso continuo
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 243234
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