“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: Piano
Item no.: 355096
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 355678
for: Voice (low), piano
Item no.: 355580
for: Voice (low), piano
Item no.: 355573
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 355464
Edition Schott
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 748798
for: 2 Violinen und Basso continuo (Cembalo, Klavier, Orgel); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 101626
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 635016
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 946856
for: 2 Violinen und Bass mit Generalbass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1667060
for: Chor SA, Orgel o Klavier
Score
Item no.: 1339972
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 624609
for: Piano Reduction
Piano reduction
Item no.: 613413
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 903342
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Book
Item no.: 902714
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 901108
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 872094
for: Choir
Book
Item no.: 869665
Score
Item no.: 885478
Score
Item no.: 644522
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210304
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1210633
for: Soprano SATB
Choir score
Item no.: 321820
for: 4 brass instruments
Score, ensemble scores
Item no.: 377723
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 321794
for: SATB Organ Accompaniment String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 321584
for: Voice Harpsichord Accompaniment
Book
Item no.: 321737
for: 1-4 Recorders
Book
Item no.: 616832
Book
Item no.: 899438
for: Men's Voices SATB Organ Accompaniment
Choir score
Item no.: 321962
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 867339
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 615141
for: Bass Voice, Soprano and Piano
Score
Item no.: 862201
for: Viola, Violin and Harpsichord Accompaniment
Set of parts
Item no.: 861942
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 887822
for: 3 Bass Clef Instruments
Score
Item no.: 927438
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 329855
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 209335
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Item no.: 645991
for: Harpsichord
Buch
Item no.: 280071
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1077146
Geistliche Musik
for: Male choir (TTB) a cappella
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041464
Die Musizierstunde 66
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1559923
for: 5 Violins, SSATB Recorders or Modern Strings
Book
Item no.: 620120
for: 3 trumpets, organ
Score, ensemble scores
Item no.: 179176
for: BFL QUARTETT (AAAB)
Item no.: 1660142
for: Organ and Brass Quartet
Score, Parts
Item no.: 919770
for: 3 flutes (trio)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 994547