“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: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 612960
Second Edition
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 769590
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 494468
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1642888
Dramatic Music Part 2 (Hardback Edition)
for: Voice String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 213710
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 1031946
Your Favorite Classics
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 887822
(Paperback)
for: SATB Piano Accompaniment String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 586093
Sacred Music Part 6 Songs and Vocal Ensemble
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 321588
10 Sonatas Of Four Parts (Full Score)
for: String orchestra
Book
Item no.: 321580
Purcell Society Volume
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 321589
Dramatic Music Part 2 (Paperback Edition)
for: Opera Voice String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 181830
The Fairy Queen (Full Score)
for: Opera
Book
Item no.: 321583
Klassik
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1213074
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1214005
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1011898
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1187086
(Dido and Aeneas)
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1015123
for: Solo voices, mixed choir, baroque orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 930628
for: String Orchestra and opt.Violin or Viola and Piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 916466
Daehn Publications
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1018437
Musica Sacra
for: Gemischter Chor 4 TRP, Pauken, Orgel
Score, Parts
Item no.: 473401
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1090297
Purcell Society Volume 19
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 321586
from Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1109376
from "Abdelazer" and "The Double Dealer"
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 671685
Purcell Society Volume 24
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 194431
Sacred Music Part 1 Eight Early Anthems
for: SATB Organ Accompaniment String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 321584
Birthday Odes For Queen Mary Part 1 (Paperback)
for: SATB Orchestra
Book
Item no.: 889978
Sacred Music Part 3 Seven Anthems (Paperback)
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 321585
Goodmusic Concert Classics
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 951577
Klassik
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 840639
Oper/Operette
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 840564
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1089658
Acte III
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1298351
Timon Of Athens (Hardback Full Score)
for: SATB Orchestra
Book
Item no.: 893593
King Arthur (Arr. Laurie)
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 166882
FJH Masterworks for Concert Band
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 968558
Brass Band
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 595466
Opera in a prologue and three acts
Purcell Society Edition 3
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 1056857
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1090228
Brass Band
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 595511
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1015333
Opera in three acts
for: Opera
Study score
Item no.: 894561
from Abdelazer suite
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1315514
Blasorchester
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 588344
Acte III
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1314105
Sacred Music Part 2 Nine Anthems
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 335545
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