“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 St. Cecilia's Day
for: 6 soloists (SSAATB), mixed choir (SSATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 488636
Eulenburg Studienpartituren
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 494468
Diletto Musicale
for: 2 violins, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 304577
Geistliche Musik
for: Mixed Choir [SATB] and Ensemble
Score
Item no.: 862154
Dowani 3 Tempi Play Along
for: Violin
Bücher-Set und Medien
Item no.: 209762
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Book
Item no.: 910349
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Item no.: 172310
Mixed Bag No. 3
for: Flexible wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 455476
The Services (Original Engraving)
for: SATB String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 630369
for: Flexible ensemble (4–7 parts)
Set of parts
Item no.: 322241
Dramatic Music Part 2 (Paperback Edition)
for: Opera Voice String Instruments
Book
Item no.: 181830
Geistliche Musik
for: Women's choir (SS), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 321601
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1014393
12 Stücke
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
Item no.: 485443
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 928521
Opt. 2 Flutes
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 934604
for: String Ensemble Keyboard Continuo
Book
Item no.: 1111033
Acte III
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1314105
Flexi-Brass (8 Parts) Piano, Timpani, Glockenspiel, Snare Drum optional
for: 8 brass winds (octet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1313231
Blasorchester
for: Mixed choir, concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 588730
Brass Band
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 595511
für 2 Harfen (Hakenharfe und Pedalharfe)
for: 2 harps
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1555506
Klassik
for: String orchestra
Book
Item no.: 908458
Sonatas VII-IX
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 900093
Klassik
for: 3 Violins, Viola and Contra Bass
Set of parts
Item no.: 862498
Klassik
for: Bass Voice, Soprano and Piano
Choir score
Item no.: 862195
Klassik
for: Viola, Violin and Harpsichord Accompaniment
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 861947
Klassik
for: SATB String Ensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 619099
Klassik
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 877833
Klassik
for: Voice (soprano), piano
Book
Item no.: 872495
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Choir score
Item no.: 911027
Klassik
for: Choir
Book
Item no.: 892017
Treasury Choral
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 807184
Southern Music
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 925471
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 618981
Klassik
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 962277
from Orpheus Britannicus
for: Voice (high), orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 867832
for: Trumpet
Music score
Item no.: 1142942
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1090228
From Ye Tuneful Muses
for: Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 884864
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1193852
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1066724
for: Brass Band and Choir
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1089414
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1214005
From Dido and Aeneas
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1145189
Streichorchester
Partitur
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 892066
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1590880
EOS - Eulenburg Orchestral Series
for: Violin
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 555821
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