JustSheetMusic
Portrait of Henry Purcell

Composer

Henry Purcell

1659–1695

1,644 works in the index

Born
1659
Died
1695
Birthplace
Westminster
Citizenship / historical state
Kingdom of England
Period (estimated from birth year)
Baroque

Biography

Purcell is the last great English composer before the twentieth century and wrote for a world of theatre music, court odes and church anthems that no longer exists, which makes the practical repertoire smaller than the catalogue suggests.

What singers actually use are the songs and the Dido and Aeneas arias, and 'When I am laid in earth' is one of the most-performed pieces in this index. Keyboard players have the harpsichord suites and the grounds, several of which are accessible early. Choirs have the anthems and the funeral music.

His notation leaves ornaments and continuo to convention even more than his continental contemporaries, so editions differ substantially. For the songs in particular, a realised edition with a written-out keyboard part is worth having unless you are able to play from a figured bass.

In this catalogue

Common listed instruments
Voice, Piano, harpsichord, Organ, Choir
Genres represented
Classical, pop, Baroque, Pop, Latin
Works with composition dates
12 of 1,644

These details describe the indexed sheet music, including arrangements.

Catalogue

Works page 16 of 35

Years are composition dates where known. Instruments describe editions in our catalogue and may include arrangements. A dash means the detail is not recorded.

Works and available sheet music details
WorkYear composedCatalogue / opusKey in titleListed instrumentsGenreEditions
Catches No. 58 - 71 from The Catch Book — —— —Classical 1
Catches No. 84 - 95 from The Catch Book — —— —Classical 1
Catches No.109-120 from The Catch Book — —— —Classical 1
Ode on St. Cecilia's Day - Score and Parts — —— —Classical 2
Ground in D Minor — —D minor —Classical 1
New Irish Tune. Lilliburlero, in G Major — —G major —Classical 1
New Scotch Tune in G Major — —G major —Classical 1
Minuet in D Minor — —D minor PianoClassical 1
Ground in E Minor — —E minor —Classical 1
Keyboard Works, Vol. 2 — —— —Classical 1
March from the Married Beau - Score — —— —Classical 2
5 Pieces from the Faery Queen - Score and Parts — —— —Classical 2
Trio pieces No. 1 - 3 - Score — —— ContinuoClassical 2
Trio pieces No. 4 - 7 - Score — —— ContinuoClassical 2
Rondeau from "Adbelazar" - Score and Parts — —— —Classical 2
Magnificat — —— —Classical 3
Take not a Woman's Anger Ill, from The Rival Sisters, or the Violence of Love — —— Piano, VoiceClassical 1
Ground in C Minor — —C minor PianoClassical 1
Corant in G Major — —G major PianoClassical 1
Saraband with Division — —— —Classical 1
New Ground in E Minor — —E minor —Classical 1
From the Serene and Rapturous Joys : "Welcome, more Welcome does he come" — —— Piano, VoiceClassical 1
Almand in B-flat Major — —B-flat major —Classical 1
Venus's Song — —— Piano, VoiceClassical 1
Keyboard Works, Vol. 3 — —— —Classical 1
15 Songs & Airs — —— Piano, VoiceClassical 1
Our Next Motion — —— ChoirClassical 2
Rigaudon: 1st Violin — —— OrchestraClassical 2
Rigaudon: 2nd Violin — —— OrchestraClassical 2
Rigaudon: 3rd Violin (Viola ) — —— OrchestraClassical 2
Rigaudon: Viola — —— OrchestraClassical 2
Rigaudon: Cello — —— OrchestraClassical 2
Rigaudon: String Bass — —— OrchestraClassical 2
Rigaudon: Score — —— OrchestraClassical 2
The Knotting Song Z.371 — —— Piano, VocalClassical, Baroque 1
I Saw That You Were Grown So High Z.387 — —— Piano, VocalClassical, Baroque 1
Suite No. 1 in G Major — —G major —— 0
Suite No. 4 in A Minor — —A minor —— 0
Two Rounds — —— Flute, Clarinet— 2
Rigaudon: 1st B — —— —Classical 2
Rigaudon: 2nd B — —— —Classical 2
King Arthur, Z. 628: Act IV. "Two daughters of this aged stream" — —— Piano, Organ, VoiceClassical 3
The Queens dolour, Z. 670 — —— Piano, harpsichord, TrumpetClassical 1
Suite in C major — —C major PianoClassical 1
Abdelazer: Festival Rondeau: Wind — —— —— 1
Air in D minor: Bassoo — —D minor —— 1
Lilliburlero: Bassoo — —— —— 1
Abdelazar: Festival Rondeau: Clarine — —— —— 1

Biographical record: Wikidata, matched on name and checked against dates held in the catalogue. The period label is an estimate from birth year. The biography above is our own. Authority record: VIAF 5118737. Portrait: anonymous, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.