“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: Voice, guitar
Item no.: 163741
"Three Parts upon a Ground"
for: 3 treble recorders, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 693921
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304587
for: Horn, piano
Item no.: 579474
for: 2 Alt-Blockflöten (Flöten, Violinen) und Klavier (Cembalo), Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad libitum
Item no.: 351270
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
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
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 1682037
Masterpiece Edition
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 972486
Alto Saxophone & Klavier (Organ)
for: Alto saxophone, piano [organ]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1668224
Fünf kleine geistliche Stücke
Ab Quartett spielbar!
for: Brass ensemble (4 voices) [brass band / flexible wind orchestra]
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1673141
for: Recorders [SATB]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1040072
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 1037749
For Twelve Trumpets and Four Trombones
for: 12 Trumpets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 966672
Klassik
for: Trumpet or Clarinet and Piano
Book
Item no.: 971912
for: 2 violins, harpsichord [piano]
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 930258
Geistliche Musik
for: String instrument
Score, Parts
Item no.: 864776
Videro
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 839450
Klassik
for: Soprano, Piano and Continuo
Book
Item no.: 909164
for: String orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 1078123
for: Handbells
Buch
Item no.: 916529
Klassik
for: Chamber ensemble
Buch
Item no.: 859951
Full Score
for: String Ensemble and Continuo
Score
Item no.: 862189
Klassik
for: Mixed Choir [SATB] and Ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 862148
Klassik
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Book
Item no.: 645192
Klassik
for: Alto SATB Trumpet String Ensemble Organ Accompaniment
Book
Item no.: 895146
Klassik
for: String instrument
Music score
Item no.: 903651
Three English Grounds
for: 1 und 2. Alt-Blockflöte, Basso continuo
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 1108085
for: Choir
Piano reduction
Item no.: 296861
for: PICC-TRP (C/D/A) ORG
Item no.: 187140
Gitarrenkammermusik Fuer Den Unterricht
for: 5 guitars
Item no.: 190311
for: Voice (high), piano
Music score
Item no.: 328058
for: Violine, 2 Viole, Violoncello
4 Performance scores
Item no.: 603761
for: 3 Blockflöten (SSA/SST)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 354291
for: Sopran- und Alt-Blockflöte und Klavier oder 3 Blockflöten (SAT) und Klavier ad libitum
Score, Parts
Item no.: 354166
for: 2 recorders (SA), piano [3 recorders (SAT); piano ad lib.]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 354145
Ach! wie süß zu lieben
for: Voice (high), piano
Item no.: 355572
for: 2 Violinen und Violoncello oder 3 Violen (Fideln)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 101627
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: String orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392482
"Selig, selig die Lust und Wonne"
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 392263
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