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 26 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
Not Forgetting Her — —— GuitarClassical —
Old French Gavotte — —— GuitarClassical —
Riggadoon from Musick's Hand-Maid — —— GuitarClassical —
Sorceress' Song — —— GuitarClassical —
Shake the cloud from off your brow — —— —— 0
Fear no danger to ensue — —— —— 0
O Happy Man — —— VoiceClassical —
Come My Hearts — —— —Classical —
Once In Our Lives — —— —Classical —
When V And I Together Meet — —— —Classical —
Ah! With Paines — —— VoiceClassical —
Come Let Us Leave Ye Town — —— VoiceClassical —
I Sigh'd And I Pin'd (A Fool's Preferment) — —— VoiceClassical —
Jenny, Gin You Can Love (A Fool's Preferment) — —— VoiceClassical —
Ah What Pains — —— VoiceClassical —
I Envy Not A Monarch's Fate — —— VoiceClassical —
No Watch, Dear Celia — —— VoiceClassical —
Silvia — —— —Classical —
Sweet Tyraness — —— VoiceClassical —
The Triumps Of A Conquering Lover — —— VoiceClassical —
We Now My Thyrsis — —— VoiceClassical —
Hark! The Echoing Air — —— —— —
"Minuet in A minor, Z. 650" — —A minor Organ— —
"Suite in C, Z. 665: 4th and 5th movements, Saraband and Jigg" — —— Organ— —
"Suite No. 1 in G, Z. 660: 3rd movement, Corant" — —— Organ— —
Fantazia: Three Parts On A Ground — —— Piano, OrganClassical —
Overture In D Minor — —D minor —— —
Overture In G Major — —G major —— —
Overture in G Minor — —G minor —— —
Pavan In A Minor — —A minor Piano, OrganClassical —
Pavan In Four Parts — —— Piano, OrganClassical —
The Staircase Overture — —— —— —
Blessed Is He Whose Unrighteousness Is Forgiv'n — —— Organ, bass, Tenor, AltoClassical —
Abdelazer Overture — —— —— 1
Hornpipe I — —— FluteClassical —
Entree — —— OrganClassical —
Festive Voluntary — —— OrganClassical —
Queens Dolour — —— —Classical —
2. Oh How Happy He — —— Voice, RecorderClassical —
Allegro Maestoso Performed by Henry Purcell — —— —Classical 1
Canon over a ground bass Performed by Henry Purcell — —— FluteClassical 1
Trumpet Piece — —— Piano, FluteClassical 1
Fanfare — —— TromboneClassical —
Little Suite for Alto Saxophone — —— PianoClassical —
Music For Queen Mary — —— Piano, Cello, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Piccolo, percussion, Flexible Instrument, Viola, TenoClassical —
Gloria Patri — —— Piano, Cello, Oboe, violin, Bassoon, Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Piccolo, percussion, Flexible Instrument, Viola, TenoClassical —
Ayre — —— violinClassical —
Farewell — —— —Classical —

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.