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 7 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
To Thee, To Thee, And To A Maid — —— —Classical 4
Who Comes There? Stand! — —— —Classical 4
Ah! How Sweet It Is To Love — —— VoiceClassical 4
Kindly Treat Maria's Day — —— VoiceClassical 4
Olinda In Ye Shades Unseen — —— VoiceClassical 3
There's Not A Swain — —— —Classical 3
Thus Ye Gloomy World — —— VoiceClassical 3
The Cares Of Lovers — —— bass, Tenor, Choir, AltoClassical 2
Celebrate This Festival — —— Voice, Tenor, AltoClassical 3
Have You Seen But A White Lily Grow? (Anon) — —— PianoClassical 5
Behold Now Praise The Lord — —— Organ, bass, Tenor, AltoClassical 3
Hornpipe in B flat — —— PianoClassical 4
Pavane Lord Salisbury Additional credits Orlando Gibbons — —— PianoClassical 1
Hornpipe In E Minor — —E minor PianoClassical 3
14. Two Trumpet Tunes — —— OrganClassical 3
Sonata — —— —Classical 2
Rondo from Abdelazar — —— FluteClassical 3
Trumpet Tune Sinfonia from Bonduca — —— Organ, TrumpetClassical 4
Brave Souls — —— VoiceClassical 3
Let Not A Moonborn Elf — —— VoiceClassical 2
Round Thy Coast — —— VoiceClassical 4
In Vain The Am'rous Flute — —— Voice, Tenor, ChoirClassical 4
Prelude in G Major — —G major —Classical 2
Suite No. 3 in G Major — —G major Piano, harpsichordClassical 2
Suite No. 5 in C Major — —C major Piano, harpsichordClassical 2
Trio pieces No.10 -11 - Score — —— ContinuoClassical 3
Abdelazer Suite - Score and Parts — —— —Classical 3
Toccata in A Major — —A major PianoClassical 2
Suite No. 7 in D Minor — —D minor Piano, harpsichordClassical 2
Suite No. 6 in D Major — —D major Piano, harpsichordClassical 2
Suite No. 8 in F Major — —F major Piano, harpsichordClassical 2
Suite No. 2 in G Minor — —G minor Piano, harpsichordClassical 2
Prelude in A Minor — —A minor PianoClassical 2
Let Voice And Instrument Joyfully Sound! — —— —Classical 4
Purcell: Golden Sonata — —— —Classical 4
Purcell: Sonata in C Major — —C major —Classical 4
Ritornelle — —— ChoirClassical 4
With Drooping Wings — —— ChoirClassical 4
Fantasia 13 1680 ca.IMSLP —— stringsClassical 3
Fantazias and In Nomines 1680IMSLP —— —Classical 3
The British Worthy 1691IMSLP —— OrchestraClassical 3
12 Sonatas of Three Parts 1680 ca.IMSLP —— ContinuoClassical 2
Toccata quasi Fantasia — —— —Classical 3
Abdelazar: Festival Rondeau: Fl, Ob, Cl, F — —— —— 1
Air in D minor: Obo — —D minor —— 2
Trumpet Tune: Obo — —— —— 2
Lilliburlero: Cell — —— —— 2
Trumpet Tun — —— —— 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.