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 18 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
Work	Year composed	Catalogue / opus	Key in title	Listed instruments	Genre	Editions
1. Twelve Lessons from "Musick's Handmaid", Part II:	—	—	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	1
viii. A New Ground	—	—	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	1
xii. Minuet	—	—	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	1
7. A Ground	—	—	—	Piano, harpsichord	Classical	1
Intrada	—	—	—	Piano, Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Recorder	Classical	2
Pat-a-Pan	—	—	—	Piano, Cello	Classical	1
Praise To God	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Choir	Classical	2
Rondeau from Incidental Music to Abdelazer	—	—	—	Piano, Organ, Guitar, Cello, Flute, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Horn, Clarinet, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola	Classical	20
Echo Alleluia	—	—	—	Organ	Classical	1
Trumpet tune - D-Dur/D major	—	—	—	Organ	Classical	0
I Resolve Against Cringing	—	—	—	harpsichord, Voice	Classical	1
In Cloris All Soft Charms Agree	—	—	—	harpsichord, Voice	Classical	1
Rashly I Swore	—	—	—	harpsichord, Voice	Classical	2
When Her Languishing Eyes	—	—	—	harpsichord, Voice	Classical	2
A Pastoral Elegy On The Death Of Mr John Playford	—	—	—	harpsichord, Voice	Classical	1
Musing On Cares	—	—	—	harpsichord, Voice	Classical	2
Hears Not My Phillis	—	—	—	harpsichord, Voice	Classical	—
Oh Fair Cedaria	—	—	—	harpsichord, Voice	Classical	0
Hight On A Throne	—	—	—	harpsichord, Voice	Classical	1
Ode On The Queen	—	—	—	harpsichord, Voice	Classical	0
Warlike Consort	—	—	—	Organ, Saxophone	Classical	2
A Catch Iii	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	2
We Three Kings	—	—	—	Recorder	—	1
Love Has A Thousand Ways	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	2
Tis Not My Passion Makes My Care	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	2
Paspe	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	2
Make Room	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	2
Spirit Scene	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	2
Let Monarchs Fight	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	2
Tell Me, Little Woodworm	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	1
God Save Our Sovereign Charles	—	—	—	Recorder	Classical	1
3. Man is for the woman made	—	—	—	Recorder	—	1
Sonatas 1-12	—	—	—	Cello, violin	Classical	1
1. Preludio	—	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	2
7. Song-tune II	—	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	1
10. Song-tune III	—	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	1
12. Song-tune IV	—	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	1
13. Aire II	—	—	—	Piano, violin	Classical	1
O Come, Little Children	—	—	—	Cello	Classical	1
5. If All Be True That I Do Think	—	—	—	Cello	Classical	1
6. There Lies a Pudding	—	—	—	Cello	Classical	1
Riggadoon from The Second Part of Musick's Hand-maid	—	—	—	—	—	1
What Child Is This	—	—	—	Trumpet	—	1
4. Exsultate, Jubilate, K. 165: Alleluia	—	K. 165	—	Trumpet	Classical	1
1. Trumpet Intrada	—	—	—	Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba	Classical	1
3. Ode: Who From Joy Can Refrain, Z. 342	—	—	—	Timpani, Trumpet, percussion	Classical	1
Molly Malone	—	—	—	Guitar	Classical	1
Air In Em	—	—	—	Guitar	Classical	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.