“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: Flute
Music score
Item no.: 829240
for: String orchestra
Buch
Item no.: 1139740
Musica Rara
for: 2 trumpets, piano
Item no.: 335417
Single part Bass recorder
Item no.: 335246
Sonderanfertigung
for: String orchestra, basso continuo; winds ad lib.
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1653848
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Stimmensatz
Item no.: 143090
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 384438
for: 2 Violins and Basso Continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 818174
from Welcome to All the Pleasures
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 928247
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 849312
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 485697
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 920206
Musica Rara
for: Trumpet, piano
Klavierauszug, Solostimme, Digitalartikel (AODP)
Item no.: 1639682
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Book
Item no.: 1006124
for: Unison Voices and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1085567
Flute Quartet
for: Flötenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 829629
Field Entrance March
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1626945
(Grade 1/2)
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 894591
for: String Orchestra and opt.Violin or Viola and Piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 916466
Funeral Sentence - Satb, Organ Optional
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1625746
Orpheus Britannicus
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 897208
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1172710
for: 2 Violins and Basso Continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 818163
Clarinet Quartet
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 829223
for: gemischter Chor dreistimmig
Item no.: 1621180
3 Pieces
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 949572
Harmonia-Mixed Choir
for: Voice (tenor)
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 914564
For Brass Quintet
for: 2 Trompeten, Horn, Posaune und Tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1618412
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 555822
Shawnee Press
for: Male choir (TB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 823372
S.S.A.T.B. and Piano Or Organ
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1625710
for St. Cecilia's Day 1694
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Einzelstimme Trompete II
Item no.: 750155
for: 6 Instruments
Score
Item no.: 902231
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 907587
Sonatas I-IV
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 336189
for: Various Instruments
Book
Item no.: 1118058
for: 4 clarinets
Item no.: 245053
for: Trumpet, organ
Item no.: 280993
Bühnenmusik aus "Fairy Queen" für Streicher (statt Viola auch Violine III) und Basso continuo/ Bläser ad lib.
Hortus Musicus
for: Strings, basso continuo
Violin 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 228655
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 473409
for: 3 trombones
Score, Parts
Item no.: 446977
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355583
Mein Leid und alle Qualen
Item no.: 355578
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Timpani (orchestral part)
Item no.: 242837
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) [male choir (TTBB)], orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 242832
for: 3 Singstimmen (SAB/STB) Basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430928
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 977713
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Einzelstimme Bassi
Item no.: 783665
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