“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.
Eine Sammlung alter Musik
for: 2 Violinen und Bass mit Generalbass
Single part Cello
Item no.: 783474
Treble recorder 2 (single part)
Item no.: 555829
Single part Trumpet 2 (C)
Item no.: 432242
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 432238
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 783668
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Viola
Item no.: 784640
for: gemischter Chor (SATB/SATB), Soli (SATB) und Orchester
Single part Oboe 2
Item no.: 750680
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Viola
Item no.: 1566208
Eine Sammlung alter Musik
for: 2 Violinen und Bass mit Generalbass
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 783472
Incidental music for strings
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672645
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355348
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 555831
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 432237
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 784636
Incidental music for strings
for: String orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672646
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Cello/Double bass
Item no.: 784639
for: gemischter Chor (SATB/SATB), Soli (SATB) und Orchester
Single part Oboe 1
Item no.: 782455
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Cello
Item no.: 1566209
Eine Sammlung alter Musik
for: 2 Violinen und Bass mit Generalbass
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 1545043
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 488639
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355347
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 432240
"Welcome to all the pleasures"
for: 5 Soli, Chor, Streicher und Basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 782181
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 783667
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 784642
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 1566210
for: 2 Violinen und Violoncello oder 3 Violen (Fideln)
Single part Cello
Item no.: 793562
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Treble recorder (single part)
Item no.: 644979
for St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 488638
Eine Sammlung alter Musik
for: 2 Violinen und Bass mit Generalbass
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 783473
Single part Trumpet 2
Item no.: 555832
Single part Trumpet 1 (C)
Item no.: 432241
G minor
for: 3 Violinen (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Bass
Single part Violin 3
Item no.: 793465
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Single part Viola
Item no.: 783666
G minor
for: 3 Violinen (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Bass
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 784318
for: String orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 784641
for: gemischter Chor (SATB/SATB), Soli (SATB) und Orchester
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 750692
for: Trumpet, strings, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1355346
Incidental music for strings
for: String orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672647
Incidental music for strings
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 648146
for voice and ensemble
for: 2 Violinen und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier, Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 783478
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 1566207
G minor
for: 3 Violinen (oder andere Melodie-Instrumente) und Bass
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 793464
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Single part Trombone 1
Item no.: 456990
Oboe 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 555827
for: Blockflöte (S) Blockflöte (A)
Single part
Item no.: 337983
for: 2 Violinen und Violoncello oder 3 Violen (Fideln)
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 793560
for St Cecilia's Day, 1694
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 750042
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