“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.
(Paperback)
for: SATB Piano Accompaniment String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 586093
Sacred Music Part 2 Nine Anthems
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 335545
1E Suite
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1188646
1E Suite
for: Concert Band
Score
Item no.: 1185875
Violoncello & Klavier (Organ)
for: Cello, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594946
Fagott & Klavier (Organ)
for: Bassoon, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 594932
Partitur und Stimmen
for: STREICH- UND ZUPFINSTRUMENTE GITARRE VIER GITARREN
Score, Parts
Item no.: 494613
Music for Brass (Robert King) 109
for: Brass ensemble (5 parts)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 583593
for: Alto trombone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272271
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1272270
from Abdelazer suite (March Format
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1314773
Piano, Timpani, Glockenspiel, Snare Drum optional
for: 8 clarinets
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309293
Piano, Timpani, Percussion optional
for: 2 baritone horns, 2 euphoniums, 4 tubas
Sheet music
Item no.: 1309082
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 892489
Music Box
for: Flexible wind ensemble (5 voices)
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 471468
from "Abdelazer"
for: Brass ensemble (8 voices)
Score (C), Parts
Item no.: 966824
Klassik
for: Voice and Continuo
Book
Item no.: 888612
Klassik
for: String Ensemble Keyboard Continuo
Book
Item no.: 867603
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 899581
Klassik
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 895832
Klassik
for: Bass Voice and Piano
Book
Item no.: 898677
Klassik
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 910315
for: SSAA , Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 907884
for: Recorders [SAT]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 905574
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 996536
Goodmusic Concert Classics
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 951715
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 210217
Beginning Full Orchestra
for: Youth symphony orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 496851
Realizations by Benjamin Britten
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 555782
Prelude - Aria - Rondo
for: Guitar
Item no.: 393790
for: 4 Blockflöten (SATB) oder 3 Blockflöten (SAT); Klavier ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 354685
Hail! Bright CeciliaZ 328
for: Soli, Chor, Orchester
Piano reduction
Item no.: 354257
from "The Fairy Queen"
for: Guitar
Item no.: 355519
3 dreistimmige Fantasien (V, Va, Vc) und 4 vierstimmige Fantasien (2 V, Va, Vc)
Nagels Musik-Archiv
for: Viola, Tenor-Gambe
Stimme
Item no.: 217943
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1380218
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1384360
for: Choral
Item no.: 1375885
for: Choral
Item no.: 1374278
Ouvertürensuite aus der gleichnamigen Oper
für Streicher und Basso continuo
Corona - Werkreihe für Kammerorchester
for: Strings, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 223817
Musica Rara
for: Trumpet, orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 171525
Universal Saxophone Edition/Band. 2
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 113916
for: 3 Saxophone (ATB/STB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 136443
for: 2 Violins and Piano
Book
Item no.: 162678
Bühnenmusik aus "Fairy Queen" für Streicher (statt Viola auch Violine III) und Basso continuo/ Bläser ad lib.
Sonderanfertigung!
for: Strings, basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 122076
Suite for Strings
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 109020
Urtext
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 494465
Purcell Society Volume
for: Soprano Bass Voice Countertenor SATB Organ Accompaniment
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 461471
Klassik
for: String Quartet and Double Bass
Set of parts
Item no.: 862492
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