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 25 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
"Hallelujah from O God, thou art my God" — —— Piano— —
When I Am Laid In Earth (Air From "Dido And Aeneas") [Edited by Gregory Castleton] — —— —— —
Voluntary On The 100th Psalm Tune (Second Section) — —— OrganClassical 1
Trumpet Tune and Air — —— —— 0
How I Sigh — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 1
Sappho's Complaint — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 1
She Loves And She Confesses Too — —— —— 0
Since The Pox — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 1
The Concealment — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 1
I Came, I Saw — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 1
The Storm — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical —
Ye Happy Swains — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 1
Lovely Albina — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical —
When My Aemilia Smiles — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical —
Ah! Cruel Nymph — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 0
Love's Pow'r In My Heart — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical —
This Poet Sings — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical —
Trumpet Voluntary In D Major — —D major —— 0
English Dance — —— —— —
Rondeau and Dance for the Haymakers from The Fairy Queen — —— —— —
Veni Emmanuel — —— Recorder— —
Waly, Waly — —— Recorder— —
Let Not A Moonborn Elf Mislead Ye — —— RecorderClassical 2
Country Dance — —— —— —
Two Daughters of This Aged Stream — —— —— —
Harvest Home — —— RecorderClassical 1
Rigi River — —— RecorderClassical —
Sua-gan — —— RecorderClassical —
Tom Dooley — —— RecorderClassical —
Zilina Polka — —— RecorderClassical —
Zoogie — —— RecorderClassical —
Bartholomew Fair An Ape — —— RecorderClassical —
4. A Curse on all Cares — —— Recorder— —
5. Lets be Jolly — —— Recorder— —
Murky (From Die Singende Muse An Der Pliebe) — —— RecorderClassical —
11. Jigg — —— Piano, violinClassical —
Jewish Wedding Song I — —— HarpClassical —
Easter Hymn — —— Trumpet— —
America — —— Trumpet— —
Blessed Be the Name — —— Trumpet— —
2. Mass in B minor, BWV 232: Dona Nobis Pacem — BWV 232B minor TrumpetClassical —
Intrada & March — —— Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, TubaClassical —
7. Entry Dance — —— —— —
9. Dance of the Fairies — —— —— —
Misty Morn — —— GuitarClassical —
Moon Drops — —— GuitarClassical —
Morrison's Jig — —— GuitarClassical —
Na Pali Coast — —— GuitarClassical —

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.