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 9 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
If Pray's And Tears — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 3
The Caution — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 4
The Rich Rival — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 3
Celia's Fond — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 3
Love Arms Himself — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 2
Scotch Song — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 2
She That Would Gain — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 1
Bell Barr See I Love And I Must — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 1
See How The Fading Glories — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 2
Spite Of The Godhead — —— harpsichord, VoiceClassical 2
Canon over a ground bass (alto flute) — —— Flute— 3
Trumpet Sonata (Movement 1) — —— FluteClassical 3
Man Is for Woman Made — —— RecorderClassical 4
Full Fathom Five — —— RecorderClassical 4
Let All Mankind the Pleasures Share — —— RecorderClassical 4
Second Act Tune — —— Organ, RecorderClassical 4
No Joys Are Above — —— RecorderClassical 4
Early Christmas Morn — —— Recorder— 3
The Capucine — —— RecorderClassical 2
The Grand Old Duke Of York — —— RecorderClassical 3
A Lion, A Fox and an Ass — —— RecorderClassical 1
Now We Are Met — —— RecorderClassical 1
Full Bags Down — —— RecorderClassical 1
Down With Bacchus — —— RecorderClassical 1
Siciliano — —— Organ, RecorderClassical 3
Riggadoon — —— Organ, Guitar, Trumpet, RecorderClassical 4
Aria — —— Piano, Organ, Trombone, RecorderClassical 3
Two Airs — —— Flute, violinClassical 2
Symphony from King Arthur — —— violin— 3
Blue Bells Of Scotland (Duet) — —— Trumpet— 3
1. Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary: March, Canzona — —— Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, TubaClassical 3
Morning Song — —— GuitarClassical 3
Hornpipe In Em — —— GuitarClassical 4
I Prithee Send Me Back In My Heart (Henry Lawes) — —— GuitarClassical 4
Minuet In G (Anonymous) — —— Piano, Guitar, SaxophoneClassical 5
Piece For Harpischord — —— GuitarClassical 3
Sylvia Now Your Scorn — —— GuitarClassical 2
Who Can Resist Such Mighty Charm — —— GuitarClassical 3
Come Away Fellow Sailors — —— GuitarClassical 4
How Blessed Are Shepherds — —— GuitarClassical 3
I Was Glad — —— ChoirClassical 3
Alleluia — —— Voice, ChoirClassical 5
Evening Hymn — —— VoiceClassical 5
Lost is My Quiet — —— Piano, Cello, Oboe, violin, Voice, Bassoon, Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Piccolo, percussion, Flexible Instrument, ViolClassical 2
Saul and the Witch at Endor — —— VoiceClassical 5
I spy Celia — —— VoiceClassical 4
Sound fame thy brazen trumpet — —— —Classical 5
Ah, Belinda! I am prest with torment — —— —Classical 5

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.