“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.
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 876970
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 770830
revised and original versions
for: 4 soloists (ATBB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929271
Geistliche Musik
for: Countertenor, TTBB, SATB and Piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 867234
for: 2 soloists (TB), mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 886827
Music for Brass (Robert King)
for: Blechbläserquartett
Book
Item no.: 819727
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 872203
Purcell Society Volume 22B
for: 1–2 voices, basso continuo
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 778893
for: Mixed choir (SSATBB), organ
Score
Item no.: 901266
Song
for: Sopran, 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier; Violoncello ad libitum
Item no.: 1545458
Geburtstagsode für Queen Mary, 1694
for: gemischter Chor (SATB), Soli (SAAB) und Orchester
Partitur
Item no.: 354259
The Complete Texts
Clarendon Press
Lyric book
Item no.: 769576
for: Women's choir (SSA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 891796
6 Songs
for: High [Medium] Voice and Piano
Book
Item no.: 905443
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 322112
Choral Music
for: Mixed choir (SATB), 2 oboes, cor anglais, bassoon, 4 trumpets, , snare drum, timpani, organ
Score
Item no.: 321285
5 Songs and a Duet
for: hohe Singstimme(n) und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 727193
from "Ode for the Birthday of Queen Mary"
for: Sopran, Oboe und Klavier
Music score
Item no.: 729846
blue, new edition 2019
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 768278
Full Score
for: SATB, Alto [Treble] Recorder, Continuo and String Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 867090
for: Solo voice, mixed choir (SATB)
Score
Item no.: 897933
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 896915
for: Choir (3 voices), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 878047
The Cold Song
Arie des Frostgeistes aus "King Arthur", 3. Akt
for: Voice (alto), piano
Music score
Item no.: 563578
(First Setting)
for: Voice, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 748835
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 902627
Oper/Operette
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 840564
Music for Brass (Robert King)
for: Trumpet, organ
Book
Item no.: 240703
for: Voice (alto), piano
Music score
Item no.: 489749
King Arthur or The British Worthy
for: Voice (bass/baritone), piano
Music score
Item no.: 757402
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1681995
Kingfisher Brass
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 971739
Te Deum laudamus
for: Mixed choir (SSATBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 795676
Geistliche Musik
for: Mixed choir (SAB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1584401
A Royal Welcome Song
for soloists (CtCtTTBB), mixed chorus (SATB), strings and Bc
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 672415
from "Ode for the Birthday of Queen Mary"
for: Sopran, Oboe und Klavier
Item no.: 644765
for: Voices
Choir score
Item no.: 374085
Krönungsanthem für James II.
for: gemischter Chor (SSAATTBB), Streicher und Orgel
Partitur
Item no.: 354260
for: 2 Voices [High/Medium] and Piano
Book
Item no.: 604162
Opera
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392125
Sacred Music Part I
Purcell Society Edition 13
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 771298
Novello New Choral Engravings
for: Mixed choir (SSAATTBB), organ
Score
Item no.: 322164
for: Choir
Score
Item no.: 888894
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Item no.: 887597
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Soloists, mixed choir, strings, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1565814
9 Songs for low voice and keyboard
for: Voice (low), piano
Music score
Item no.: 355566
Purcell Society Edition Companion Series 5
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 769250
Air and Chorus from "The Tempest" (Shakespeare)
for: Soloist (soprano), mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 680162
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