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 8 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.
| Work | Year composed | Catalogue / opus | Key in title | Listed instruments | Genre | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ah! How Pleasant 'tis Love | — | — | — | Voice, Low Voice | Classical | 5 |
| Fairest Isle | — | — | — | Organ, Voice, Choir, Recorder, Voice High, Low Voice | Classical | 11 |
| Lord, what is man | — | — | — | Voice, Low Voice | Classical | 7 |
| Sweet, Be No Longer Sad | — | — | — | Voice, Low Voice | Classical | 4 |
| Nymphs and Shepherds | — | — | — | Piano, Voice, Low Voice, Mezzo Soprano Voice | Classical | 5 |
| The Queen's Epicedium | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice, Low Voice | Classical | 5 |
| Blessed Virgin's Expostulation | — | — | — | Low Voice | Classical | 3 |
| Bourree And Hornpipe | — | — | — | Piano, Viola | Classical | 3 |
| How blest are shepherds from King Arthur | — | — | — | Piano | Classical | 9 |
| Rondeau in D minor from Abdelazer | — | — | D minor | Piano | Classical | 3 |
| Suite | — | — | — | Piano, Organ, Cello, Oboe, violin, Viola | Classical | 3 |
| 26. Song and Chorus: Haste to Town | — | — | — | Choir | Classical | 3 |
| Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei | — | — | — | Voice, Choir | Classical | 5 |
| These R The Sacred Charms-Shield | — | — | — | Choir | Classical | 3 |
| See Nature Rejoicing | — | — | — | Choir | Classical | 3 |
| For The Lord Is Gracious | — | — | — | Choir | Classical | 3 |
| 'Twas within a furlong of Edinborough Town | — | — | — | Piano, Organ, Voice High | Classical | 3 |
| Fairest Isle, All Isles Excelling (King Arthur) | — | — | — | Voice High, Low Voice | Classical | 3 |
| Retir'd From Any Mortal Sight (King Richard The Second) | — | — | — | Voice High, Low Voice | Classical | 3 |
| When I Have Often Heard Young Maids Complaining (The Fairy Queen) | — | — | — | Piano, Voice, Voice High, Low Voice | Classical | 1 |
| Come, let us leave the Town | — | — | — | — | Classical | 3 |
| Come, Ye Sons Of Art, Away | — | — | — | Voice | Classical | 2 |
| Fair Iris and her Swain | — | — | — | — | Classical | 3 |
| Shepherd, Shepherd, Leave Decoying | — | — | — | Piano, Organ, Voice | Classical | 2 |
| "Suite No. 1 in G, Z. 660: 1st movement, Prelude" | — | — | — | Piano, Organ | — | 3 |
| 1. Suite I | — | — | — | Piano, harpsichord, Recorder | Classical | 3 |
| 5. Suite V | — | — | — | Piano, harpsichord | Classical | 3 |
| Suite I In G | — | — | — | Piano, Organ | Classical | 4 |
| 5. A Ground in Gamut | — | — | — | Piano, harpsichord, Trumpet | Classical | 3 |
| Prelude In C (5th Suite) | — | — | — | Piano | Classical | 3 |
| iii. March | — | — | — | Piano, harpsichord | Classical | 3 |
| Gavotte | — | — | — | Piano, Cello, Flute, violin, Viola | Classical | 4 |
| "Suite in C, Z. 665: 1st and 2nd movements, Prelude and Almond" | — | — | — | Piano | — | 3 |
| Rejoice in the Lord | — | — | — | Piano, Organ, Choir | Classical | 3 |
| A Song Tune | — | — | — | Piano | Classical | 4 |
| Voluntary in C | — | — | — | Organ | Classical | 3 |
| Hark Each Tree | — | — | — | Organ, Voice, bass, Tenor, Choir, Alto | Classical | 4 |
| Soul Of The World | — | — | — | Organ, bass, Tenor, Alto | Classical | 4 |
| Amintas To My Grief I See | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice | Classical | 2 |
| Amintor Heedless Of His Flocks | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice | Classical | 3 |
| Beneath A Dark And Melancholy Grove | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice | Classical | 3 |
| No To What Purpose | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice | Classical | 1 |
| Since One Poor View | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice | Classical | 3 |
| Through Mournful Shades | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice | Classical | 3 |
| Who But A Slave | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice | Classical | 3 |
| A Pastoral Coronation Song | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice | Classical | 2 |
| Beware, Poor Shepherds | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice | Classical | 2 |
| Farewell, Ye Rocks | — | — | — | harpsichord, Voice | Classical | 4 |
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.