“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: Unison Voices and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1085567
Geistliche Musik
for: Male choir (TTB) a cappella
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041464
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 905200
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 906757
Discovery Choral
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 810705
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1037749
for: Mixed choir (SSATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 906825
C
for: Piano
Easy Piano
Item no.: 1044263
in C, Z 666
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 2069
Southern Music
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 925285
With drooping wings, ye Cupids come
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1039084
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 950730
Weihnachtskantate. Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe
for: Viola
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 235636
Weihnachtskantate. Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 235637
Weihnachtskantate. Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 235634
Weihnachtskantate. Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 235635
for: Male choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1342059
for: SSAA , Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 907884
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
für gemischten Chor und Orgel (oder Orchester)
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra [organ]
Choir score
Item no.: 180163
Nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 242836
2 Rounds in 3 Parts
for: Instrumental Parts
Set of parts
Item no.: 1040166
for: Two-Part Mixed Voices, Keyboard [Piano or Organ]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 919755
GIA Ars Antiqua
for: SATB, Soprano Solo and None
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1150842
Choral
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 903631
for: SSA , Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 899251
Dm
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1553947
Discovery Choral
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 810000
Klassik
for: Voice, Organ and Continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 553902
GIA Ars Antiqua
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1158249
Brookfield Easter Choral
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano; trumpet ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 965274
Klassik
for: Choir (3 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 867412
Nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 678156
Andrea Ramsey Choral Series
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 799036
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SS] and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1037635
GIA Ars Antiqua
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1154882
GIA Evoking Sound
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1153776
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Women's choir (SSA), organ [piano]
Choir score
Item no.: 271944
Festival Choral
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 803698
Nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 678150
Shawnee Press
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 823373
for: Men or Mixed Choir and Orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1341397
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Choir score
Item no.: 321623
for: GCH (SSATB) BC ORG
Item no.: 493466
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA], Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1040704
Henry Leck Creating Artistry
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 799141
Geistliche Musik
for: 2-Part Treble Voices [SA] a Cappella
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039115
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 242834
Shawnee Press
for: Male choir (TB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 823372
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