“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: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1145460
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1560144
F
for: Voice (low), piano
Piano/Vocal
Item no.: 1479062
for: Voice, harpsichord [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 321738
Purcell Society Volume 22B
for: 1–2 voices, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 472755
Bm
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1030417
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 317953
for: Mixed choir (SATB), strings
Score
Item no.: 872991
Novello Short Biographies
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 321389
Aria from the Ode for the Birthday of Queen Mary, 1694
for: Kontra-Alt, 2 Alt-Blockflöten und Klavier; Violoncello ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 571705
Welcome to all the pleasures
for: 5 Solostimmen, Chor, Streicher und Basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 743415
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1105458
Purcell Society Edition 1
for: Voice, orchestra
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 586480
for: 3 soloists (ATB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929276
Second Edition
Book (softcover)
Item no.: 769590
for: SATB or SAATTB with SAATBB Soli
Book
Item no.: 935738
Purcell Society Volume 19
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Score
Item no.: 321586
for: Organ manuals [piano]
Music score
Item no.: 224868
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Mixed Choir [SATB], String Quartet, Percussion, Lute and Harpsicohrd
Piano reduction
Item no.: 840085
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 888922
for: Male choir (TTB), organ
Score
Item no.: 886674
for: 3 voices (STB), organ, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 579513
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 908412
Music for Brass (Robert King)
for: Trumpet and String Ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 240707
from "The Old Bachelor"
Z. T685
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4230
Edition Schott
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Music score
Item no.: 748863
for: Sopran- und Alt-Blockflöte und Klavier oder 3 Blockflöten (SAT) und Klavier ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 726812
for: Soprano Harpsichord Accompaniment
Book
Item no.: 1668267
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1678345
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1078192
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1078350
Klassik
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Book
Item no.: 873928
for: 3 soloists (ATB), mixed choir (SATB), strings, organ
Score, set of parts (strings)
Item no.: 929274
Barock/Klassik
for: Flute ensemble (4-6 voices) [4 flutes; alto flute, bass flute ad lib.]
Score, part
Item no.: 689610
nach Henry Purcell's "Trumpet Voluntary"
für gemischten Chor und Orgel (oder Orchester)
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra [organ]
Choir score
Item no.: 180163
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Item no.: 247672
for: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones (quartet)
Score
Item no.: 562224
Frutti Musicali
for: 3 GES (STB) 2 VL BC
Score, Parts
Item no.: 494616
für variable Besetzung (sehr leicht)
Absolute Beginners
for: Flexible ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 464619
Em
for: Piano, Oboe
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1589457
for: Soprano / Alto Recorder
Buch
Item no.: 271842
Vocal and Instrumental Music for the Stage
Purcell Society Edition 21
for: Chamber ensemble
Score (Hardcover)
Item no.: 586481
for: Mixed choir, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 464356
zu 5 Stimmen
Bläsermusikmusiken 7
for: 3 trumpets, 2 trombones
Score
Item no.: 119868
20 Baroque Pieces
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 143394
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano [organ]
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1563625
for: Brass ensemble (10 parts)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1678363
Em
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1024264
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