“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: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 374931
Southern Music
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 924843
Kanon zu 3 Stimmen
Score
Item no.: 1338069
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 291108
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 1338222
from "The Old Bachelor"
Z. T685
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4230
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4782
from "The Double Dealer"
Z. T676
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4109
Z. 653
for: Harpsichord [piano]
Sheet music
Item no.: 4273
GIA Choral Series
for: Mixed choir (SATB); piano ad lib.
Choir score
Item no.: 1151584
Z 717
for: Organ [harpsichord]
Sheet music
Item no.: 3128
Két régi angol kánon
for: Men's choir [women's chori] (3 equal voices ) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 822657
for: Choral
Item no.: 1372533
for: Choral
Item no.: 1373717
from: Funeral Music for Queen Mary
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 4184
from: Funeral Music for Queen Mary
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 4554
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 1338122
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1032012
"Welcome to all the pleasures"
for: 5 Soli, Chor, Streicher und Basso continuo
Single part Viola
Item no.: 782182
from Dido and Aeneas
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 759050
for: Women's choir (SSAA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1039066
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 899581
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Single part Viola
Item no.: 784637
for: 2 Violinen und Violoncello oder 3 Violen (Fideln)
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 793561
for: SSATB and Organ
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1040210
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 784635
aus der Oper "The Indian Queen"
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 1565990
from: Abdelazer Suite, Z. 570
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 760536
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Single edition
Item no.: 1038415
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 1566206
from: „The Fairy Queen“
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 722271
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 1041419
for: Lead Sheet
Item no.: 1360030
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Einzelstimme Bassi
Item no.: 784638
for: 4 recorders (SATB quartet)
Music score
Item no.: 738399
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Choir score
Item no.: 1041681
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA] and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1041765
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Viola
Item no.: 1566208
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 899041
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Score
Item no.: 903866
for: 2 Violinen, Viola, Bassi; Cembalo ad libitum
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 784636
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Cello
Item no.: 1566209
With drooping wings, ye Cupids come
for: Women's choir (SSAA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 906668
for: Trompete und Streichorchester
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 1566210
for: 2 Violinen und Violoncello oder 3 Violen (Fideln)
Single part Cello
Item no.: 793562
for: TTBB Keyboard [Organ or Piano]
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039519
Geistliche Musik
for: Women's choir (SSA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 904612
for: Two-Part Treble Voices [SA] and Piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1039539
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