“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.
Harmonia-Womens Choir
for: Women's choir (SA), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 910117
for: Blockflötenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 977706
for: 2 Trumpets and Piano or Organ
Buch
Item no.: 1019519
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1138950
for: 2 Trumpets and Piano or Organ
Buch
Item no.: 1139080
for St. Cecilia's Day 1694
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 782281
GIA Choral Series
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1151584
for: gemischter Chor (SATB/SATB), Soli (SATB) und Orchester
Einzelstimme Violine/Violoncello/Kontrabass
Item no.: 750694
Shawnee Press
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 823373
for: Voice (low)
Buch
Item no.: 1087025
for: 5 TRP (+ PK)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 371323
for: Tuba, piano
Item no.: 490574
for: Trumpet, organ
Item no.: 280895
for: Trumpet, organ
Item no.: 280893
for: 4 BLECH
Item no.: 433542
Single part Tenor recorder
Item no.: 334116
for: Mixed choir, brass winds, organ
Score
Item no.: 1042897
for: Men or Mixed Choir and Orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1341397
for: 4 recorders (quartet)
KOPIE / PART ST
Item no.: 338295
Klassik
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Book
Item no.: 1006336
Klassik
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Book
Item no.: 1005831
Saxophone Quartet
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 829713
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 830230
for: 8 Trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 966657
for: Violin [flute/oboe], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1215481
for: Double bass
Music score
Item no.: 404237
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1546003
Musica Rara
for: TRP (1-2) STR BC
Set of parts
Item no.: 171526
for: für Blockflötenquartett und Cembalo (Klavier) Tenor
Single part
Item no.: 185991
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228651
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 940714
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trumpet 3
Item no.: 456989
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Score
Item no.: 853960
Weltlich
for: Organ Accompaniment SATB Men's Voices
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 871919
for: Guitar
Item no.: 108027
for: Male choir
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1342058
for St Cecilia's Day 1694
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Einzelstimme Basso Continuo
Item no.: 750041
Klassik
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 1111456
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Buch
Item no.: 1140014
for: Voice
Choir score
Item no.: 1172887
for: Soloist (bass), mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929270
Klassik
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 1110874
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 998752
Moine Bourru mazurka
for: Symphonic orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1139144
Brass Musik 14
for: 4 brass instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 480736
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