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 24 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
21. Echo Dance of Furies — —— —— —
22. Ritornelle — —— —— —
23. Song and Chorus: Thanks to These Lonesome Vales — —— —— —
29. The Sailors' Dance — —— —— —
30a. Recitative: See the Flags — —— —— —
30b. Song: Our Next Motion Must Be to Storm — —— —— —
31. Chorus: Destruction's Our Delight — —— —— —
32. The Witches' Dance — —— —— —
36. Recitative: Thy Hand, Belinda — —— —— —
37. Song: When I am Laid in Earth — —— —— —
38. With Drooping Wings — —— —— —
Bid The Virtues,Bid The Graces — —— ChoirClassical —
Vouchsafe, O Lord — —— ChoirClassical 1
O Lord, In Thee Have I Trusted — —— ChoirClassical —
Be Ye Sure — —— ChoirClassical —
O Go Your Way — —— ChoirClassical —
Lord, For Thy Tender Mercy's Sake — —— ChoirClassical —
Ah! Belinda, I Am Press'd With Torment (Dido And Aeneas) — —— —— —
I Am Come To Lock All Fast (The Fairy Queen) — —— Voice High, Low VoiceClassical —
When I Am Laid in Earth [Transcribed by Leonard Van Camp, Text by Nahum Tate] — —— —— —
1. Let the dreadfull Engines — —— —Classical —
Since Times are so bad — —— —Classical —
Sailors' Dance From Dido And Aeneas — —— —— —
Two Daughters Of This Aged Stream Are We — —— —— —
"Song Tune in C, Z. T694" — —— Piano, Organ— —
Voluntary On The Doxology (Old 100th) — —— Piano— —
Rigadon — —— Piano, Organ, GuitarClassical 2
2. Suite II — —— Piano, harpsichord, RecorderClassical —
Suite Ii In G Min. — —— Piano, OrganClassical 1
Suite Iv In A Min. — —— Piano, OrganClassical 1
1. Suite VI — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical —
7. Lesson — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical —
9. Verse — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical —
"Suite No. 1 in G, Z. 660: 2nd movement, Almand" — —— Piano— —
Rigadoon — —— Piano, Cello, Flute, violin, Horn, Clarinet, Trumpet, Saxophone, Flexible Instrument— —
ii. [untitled] — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical —
iv. New Minuet — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical —
v. Minuet — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical —
vii. A New Scotch Tune — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical —
ix. A New Irish Tune - Lilliburlero — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical —
x. Rigadoon — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical —
xi. Sefauchi's Farewell — —— Piano, harpsichordClassical —
5. The Queen's Dolour, a Farewell — —— —— —
"A New Ground, Z. T682" — —— Piano— —
Saraband in D (Borry) Z. D219/2 (attrib.) — —— Piano— —
1. [The Comical History of Don Quixote, Z.578; Aria:] Let the Dreadful Engines — —— Piano, Organ, Voice, AltoClassical —
"Rondeau, from Abdelazar, arr. Mary Cohen" — —— Piano— —
Air Des Bouffons (French) — —— Piano— —

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.