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 19 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
March In D — —— GuitarClassical 2
A Ground In G — —— GuitarClassical 2
Song Tune from King Arthur — —— GuitarClassical 0
A Morning Hymn — —— VoiceClassical 3
Strike the Viol, Touch the Lute — —— VoiceClassical 1
Ah! Few And Full Of Sorrow — —— VoiceClassical —
How Have I Stray'd — —— VoiceClassical 1
How Long, Great God — —— VoiceClassical 0
Lord, Not To Us — —— VoiceClassical 0
O Lord, Since I Experienc'd Have — —— VoiceClassical 0
The Earth Trembled — —— VoiceClassical 0
God Save Our Sov'reign Charles — —— —Classical 1
Great Apollo And Bacchus — —— —Classical 1
My Lady's Coachman, John — —— —Classical 0
Would You Know How We Meet — —— —Classical 1
Aprill Who Till Now — —— VoiceClassical 0
Come All Yee Songsters — —— VoiceClassical 0
Corrinna Is Divinely Fair — —— VoiceClassical 0
Hark Th'ecchoing Air — —— VoiceClassical 0
Heark How All Things — —— VoiceClassical 0
I Look'd And Saw — —— VoiceClassical 0
I See She Fly's Me — —— VoiceClassical 1
Let Ye Dreadful Engines — —— VoiceClassical 0
May Ye God Of Witt — —— VoiceClassical 0
No No Poor Suff'ring Heart — —— VoiceClassical 0
Now Ye Maids And Ye Men — —— VoiceClassical 1
Now Ye Night Is Chac'd Away — —— VoiceClassical 0
Sawny Is A Bonny Land — —— VoiceClassical 0
Since Cloris The Powers — —— VoiceClassical 0
Strike Ye Violl — —— VoiceClassical 0
Thou Tn'st This World — —— VoiceClassical 1
Praise The Lord, O Jerusalem — —— bass, Tenor, Choir, AltoClassical 1
Praise The Lord, O My Soul - O My God — —— bass, Tenor, Choir, AltoClassical 0
Fled Is My Love, For Ever Gone (A Fool's Preferment) — —— VoiceClassical 1
In Vain 'Gainst Love I Strove (Henry The Second, King Of England) — —— VoiceClassical 1
Love Thou Art Best Of Human Joys (The Female Virtuosos) — —— VoiceClassical 1
The Gordian Knot Unty'd — —— VoiceClassical 0
'tis Death Alone Can Give Me Ease (A Fool's Preferment) — —— VoiceClassical 0
A Pastoral Elegy On The Death Of Mr.John Playford — —— VoiceClassical 1
A Thousand Sev'ral Ways — —— VoiceClassical 0
An Elegy Upon The Death Of Mr.Thomas Farmer — —— VoiceClassical 1
Draw Near, You Lovers, Farewell, All Joys — —— VoiceClassical 0
High On A Throne — —— VoiceClassical 1
How Peaceful The Days Are — —— VoiceClassical 1
I Fain Would Be Free — —— VoiceClassical 1
If Pray'rs And Tears — —— VoiceClassical 0
On The Death Of His Worthy Friend — —— —Classical 1
Since Teh Pox — —— VoiceClassical 0

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.