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 17 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
Trumpet Tune: Flut — —— —— 1
Come, Ye Sons of Art: Chamber Orchestr — —— —— 1
Lilliburlero: Obo — —— —— 1
Abdelazar: Festival Rondeau: String — —— —— 1
Air in D minor: Cell — —D minor —— 1
Air in D minor: Viol — —D minor —— 1
Lilliburlero: Viol — —— —— 1
Trumpet Tune: Viol — —— —— 1
Trumpet Tune: Violi — —— —— 1
Suite No1 in G: Z.66 — —— —— 1
Air in D mino — —— —— 1
Air in D minor: Easy pian — —D minor —— 1
Air in D minor: Pian — —D minor —— 1
Lilliburler — —— —— 1
Riggadoon: from Suite in — —— —— 1
Festival Rondeau: from Abdelazar: Brass — —— —— 1
Trumpet Tune: Trumpe — —— —— 1
Fly, Bold Rebellion! — —— Piano, bass, Tenor, Choir, AltoClassical 1
From Hardy Climes — —— Piano, harpsichord, Cello, violin, Voice, strings, bass, Tenor, Choir, Alto, Recorder, ViolaClassical 2
Swifter, Isis, Swifter Flow — —— Piano, bass, Tenor, Choir, AltoClassical 1
We Sing To Him — —— Voice, Voice High, Low VoiceClassical 7
Strike The Viol — —— Choir, Trombone, Low VoiceClassical 3
"Come, ye Sons of Art" — —— Piano, Trumpet— 1
"Almond (Allemande), Z.665/2" — —— Piano— 1
20. Chorus: In Our Deep Vaulted Cell — —— ChoirClassical 1
25. Recitative: Behold, Upon My Bended Spear — —— ChoirClassical 1
27. Recitative: Stay, Prince — —— ChoirClassical 1
28. Prelude, Song and Chorus: Come Away, Fellow Sailors — —— ChoirClassical 1
33. Recitative: Your Counsel — —— ChoirClassical 1
34. Recitative: But Death, Alas! — —— ChoirClassical 1
Day That Such A Blessing Gave — —— ChoirClassical 1
Glory Be To The Father — —— ChoirClassical 1
Sing For Joy — —— ChoirClassical 1
Minuet II — —— Piano, Organ, Guitar, Flute, VoiceClassical 3
From Rosy Bow'rs (Don Quixote) — —— Voice High, Low VoiceClassical 1
Halcyon Days, Now Wars Are Over (The Tempest) — —— Voice High, Low VoiceClassical 1
Come, All Ye Songsters Of The Sky (The Fairy Queen) — —— Voice High, Low VoiceClassical 1
For Love ev'ry Creature — —— VoiceClassical 1
When Myra sings — —— VoiceClassical 0
Tell me why my charming fair — —— —Classical 1
1. Seek not to know what must not be reveal'd (d-f') — —— OboeClassical 1
Air — —— Piano, Guitar— 1
Suite Iii In G — —— Piano, OrganClassical 2
Suite Vi In D — —— Piano, OrganClassical 2
3. Suite VIII — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical 1
8. Voluntary — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical 1
O Dive Custos — —— Piano, Organ, VoiceClassical 1
I attempt from love's sickness to fly (from The Indian Queen), Z. 630 — —— PianoClassical 2

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.