Henry Purcell

"Purcell" redirects here. You may be looking for Daniel Purcell. See also the disambiguation page for Purcell.

Henry Purcell

Life

Born: 10 September 1659

Died: 21 November 1695

Biography

The entry in Cathedral Music, Volume 2 (William Boyce) reads:

"Henry Purcell, was one of the Children of the Chapel Royal, and became Organist of the same in 1682. He was also Organist of the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster, which Place he resigned in 1693.

He died in 1695, aged 37, and was buried in the North Isle of the said Church. On the Stone erected to his Memory is inscribed

Here lies Henry Purcell, Esq; who left this Place, and is gone to that Blessed Place where only his Harmony can be exceeded.

And on his Grave-stone, as follows:

Applaud so great a Guest Celestial Pow'rs, / Who now resides with you, but once was ours:

Yet let invidious Earth no more reclaim / Her short-liv'd Fav'rite, and her chiefest Fame,

Complaining that so prematurely dy'd / Good Nature's Pleasure, and Devotion's Pride,

Dy'd! No, he lives while yonder Organs sound, / And sacred Echoes to the Choir rebound.

The Poet Dryden wrote an Elegy on his Death, which was set to Music by Dr. John Blow, who had been his Master. He appears to have possessed a Genius superior to any of his Predecessors, together with a depth of Musical Knowledge not inferior to the most learned of them. His Talents were not confined to any particular Manner or Stile of Composition, for he was equally excellent in every thing he attempted; and it is doing but common Justice to his Memory to acknowledge, that his Works, in general, affect more powerfully, than those of almost any other Author."

View the Wikipedia article on Henry Purcell.

List of choral works

For works at CPDL sorted alphabetically by title, see Henry Purcell compositions

**L E G E N D**
ICON	SOURCE
	File details
	Help

Sacred works

Morning canticles

Morning canticles in B flat
- Te Deum, Z 230/1
- Benedictus, Z 230/2
- Benedicite omnia opera, Z 230/3
- Jubilate Deo, Z 230/4
Te Deum and Jubilate in D, Z 232 (3 editions available)

Evening canticles

Evening canticles in B flat
- Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, Z 230/7 & 8 (2 editions available)
- Cantate Domino, Z 230/9
- Deus Misereatur, Z 230/10
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in G minor, Z 231 (2 editions available)

Services

Communion service in B flat
- Kyrie, Z 230/5
- Creed, Z 230/6
Funeral Music for Queen Mary, Z 860 (3 editions available)

Anthems

Awake, put on thy strength, Z 1
Beati omnes qui timent Dominum, Z 131 ( )
Behold, I bring you glad tidings, Z 2
Behold now, praise the Lord, Z 3
Be merciful unto me, Z 4
Blessed are they that fear the Lord, Z 5
Blessed be the Lord my strength, Z 6
Blessed is he that considereth the poor, Z 7 ( Capella )
Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, Z 8
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, Z 9
Blow up the trumpet in Sion, Z 10 ( )
Bow down thine ear, O Lord, Z 11
Declare his honour (part of O sing unto the Lord, Z 44) (2 editions available)
Give sentence with me, O Lord, Z 12
Hear me, O Lord, and that soon
- a 4, Z 13a
- a 5, Z 13b
Hear my prayer, O God, Z 14
Hear my prayer, O Lord, Z 15 (4 editions available)
If the Lord himself, ZN 66
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, Z 16
In the midst of life
- Z 17a, SATB (SATB)
- Z 17b, ATB (SATB)
It is a good thing to give thanks, Z 18
I was glad
- I was glad (full anthem) (3 editions available)
- Z 19, SATB with strings ( Capella )
I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, Z 20
I will give thanks unto the Lord, Z 21
I will love thee, O Lord, ZN 67
I will sing unto the Lord, Z 22
In God's word will I rejoice (2 editions available) an excerpt from Be merciful unto me, Z 4
Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei, Z 135 (2 editions available)
Let God arise, Z 23
Let mine eyes run down with tears, Z 24
Lord, how long wilt Thou be angry, Z 25 (3 editions available)
Lord, who can tell how oft he offendeth? Z 26
Man that is born of a woman, Z 27
My beloved spake, Z 28

My heart is fixed, O God, Z 29
My heart is inditing, Z 30
My song shall be alway, Z 31 ( Capella )
O consider my adversity , Z 32
O give thanks unto the Lord, Z 33 ( Capella )
O God, the King of glory, Z 34 (2 editions available)
O God, they that love thy name, ZD 4
O God, thou art my God, Z 35
O God, thou hast cast us out, Z 36
O Lord God of Hosts, Z 37
O Lord, grant the King a long life, Z 38
O Lord, our governor, Z 39
O Lord, rebuke me not, Z 40
O Lord, Thou art my God, Z 41
O praise God in his holiness, Z 42
O praise the Lord, all ye heathen, Z 43
O sing unto the Lord, Z 44 ( ) Sibelius )
Out of the deep have I called, Z 45
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem, Z 46
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, Z 47
Praise the Lord, O my soul, O Lord my God, Z 48
Rejoice in the Lord alway, Z 49 ( )
Remember not, Lord, our offences, Z 50 (2 editions available)
Save me, O God, Z 51
Sing unto God, Z 52
The Lord is king, be the people never so impatient, Z 53
The Lord is King, the earth may be glad thereof, Z 54
The Lord is my light, Z 55
The way of God is an undefiled way, Z 56
They that go down to the sea, Z 57 ( Capella )
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts
- Z 58a
- Z 58b
- Z 58c (Full anthem)
Thy righteousness, O God, is very high, Z 59
Thy way, O God, is holy, Z 60 ( Capella )
Thy word is a lantern, Z 61 (2 editions available)
Turn thou us, O good Lord, Z 62
Unto Thee will I cry, Z 63
Who hath believed our report? Z 64
Why do the heathen so furiously rage together? Z 65

Hymns and sacred songs

Ah! few and full of sorrow, Z 130 (c. 1680)
Alleluia (3 editions available)
Awake, and with attention hear, Z 181 (published 1681)
Awake, ye dead, Z 182 (published 1693)
Begin the song (The Resurrection), Z 183 Sibelius 6
Close thine eyes and sleep secure, Z 184 (published 1688)
Early, O Lord, my fainting soul, Z 132 (c. 1680)
Full of wrath his threatening breath, Z 185 (Unknown)
Gloria Patri et Filio, Z 103 (c. 1680)
Gloria Patri et Filio, Z 104 – Canon 3 in 1 (c. 1680)
Gloria Patri et Filio, Z 105 – Canon 4 in 1 per arsin et thesin (c. 1680)
Gloria Patri et Filio, Z 106 – Canon 4 in 1 (c. 1680)
Gloria Patri et Filio, Z 107 – Canon 7 in 1 at the unison (Unknown)
Great God and just, Z 186 (published 1688)
Hear me, O Lord, the great support, Z 133 (1680–82)
Hosanna to the highest, Z 187 (Unknown)
How have I strayed, Z 188 (published 1688)
How long, great God?, Z 189 (published 1688)
I will give thanks unto Thee ( )
In guilty night, Z 134 ( )
In the black dismal dungeon of despair, Z 190 (published 1688)
Joy, mirth, triumphs I do defy, Z 101 (Unknown)

Laudate Dominum, Z 108 – Canon 3 in 1 (Unknown)
Lord, have mercy upon us ( )
Let the night perish, Z 191 (published 1688)
Lord, I can suffer thy rebukes, Z 136 (c. 1680)
Lord, not to us, Z 137 ( Sibelius 2 )
Lord, what is man?, Z 192 (published 1693)
Misere Mei, Z 109 – Canon 4 in 2 (published 1687)
Now that the sun hath veil'd his light, Z 193 (3 editions available)
O all ye people, clap your hands Z 138 (c. 1680)
O happy man that fears the Lord Z 139 (Unknown)
O, I'm sick of life Z 140 (c. 1680)
O Lord our governor Z 141 (c. 1680)
Plung'd in the confines of despair Z 142 (c. 1680)
Since God, so tender a regard Z 143 (c. 1680)
Sing, ye faithful ( )
Sleep, Adam, sleep and take thy rest, Z 195 (published 1688)
Tell me, some pitying angel, Z 196 (published 1693)
The earth trembled, Z 197 (published 1688)
Thou wakeful shepherd, that does Israel keep, Z 198 ( )
We sing to him, whose wisdom form'd the ear, Z 199 (published 1688)
When on my sickbed I languish Z 144 (c. 1680)
With sick and famish'd eyes, Z 200 (published 1688)

Secular works

Catches

A health to the nut-brown lass, Z 240 (1685)
An ape, a lion, a fox and an ass, Z 241 (1686)
As Roger last night to Jenny lay close, Z 242 (Unknown)
At the close of the evening, Z 599/1
Bring the bowl and cool Nantz, Z 243 (1693–94)
Call for the reckoning, Z 244 (Unknown)
Come let us drink, Z 245 (Unknown)
Come my hearts, play your parts, Z 246 (1685)
Down, down with Bacchus, Z 247 (1693)
Drink on till night be spent, Z 248 (1686)
Fie, nay, prithee (Unknown)
Full bags, a brisk bottle, Z 249 (1686)
The glass was just timed (Unknown)
God save our sovereign Charles, Z 250 (1685)
Great Apollo and Bacchus, Z 251 (Unknown)
Here's a health, pray let it pass, Z 252 (Unknown)
Here's that will challenge all the fair, Z 253 (1680)
He that drinks is immortal, Z 254 (1686)
If all be true that I do think, Z 255 (1689)
I gave her cakes and I gave her ale, Z 256 (1690)
Is Charleroy's siege come too?, Z 257 (1693)
Let the grave folks go preach, Z 258 (1685)
Let us drink to the blades, Z 259 (1691)
My lady's coachman, John, Z 260 (1688)
Now England's great council's assembled, Z 261 (1685)
Now, now we are met and humours agree, Z 262 (1688)
Of all the instruments, Z 263
Once in our lives let us drink to our wives, Z 264 (1686)
Once, twice, thrice, I Julia tried, Z 265

One industrious insect, Z 266 (Unknown)
Pale faces, stand by, Z 267 (1688)
Pox on you for a fop, Z 269 (Unknown)
Prithee be n't so sad and serious, Z 269 (Unknown)
Room for th'express, Z 270 (1694)
Since the duke is return'd, Z 271 (1685)
Since time so kind to us does prove, Z 272 (Unknown)
Sir Walter enjoying his damsel, Z 273 (Unknown)
Soldier, soldier, take off thy wine, Z 274 (Unknown)
Sum up all the delights, Z 275 (1688)
The Macedon youth, Z 276 (1686)
The miller's daughter riding, Z 277 (1686)
The siege of Limerick, Z 278 (1691)
'Tis easy to force, Z 279 (1685)
'Tis too late for a coach, Z 280 (1686)
'Tis women makes us love, Z 281 (1685)
To all lovers of music, Z 282 (1687)
To thee, to thee and to a maid, Z 283 (1685)
Tom making a manteau for a lass (Unknown)
True Englishmen drink a good health, Z 284 (c. 1689)
Under a green elm lies Luke Shepherd's helm, Z 285 (1686)
Under this stone lies Gabriel John, Z 286 (1686)
When V and I together meet, Z 287 (1686)
Who comes there?, Z 288 (1685)
Wine in a morning makes us frolic and gay, Z 289 (1686)
Would you know how we meet, Z 290 (1685)
Young Colin cleaving of a beam, Z 291 (1691)
Young John the gard'ner, Z 292 (1683)

Odes and Welcome Songs

Arise my Muse, Z320 (1690)
Celebrate this festival, Z321 (1693)
- 6. Crown the altar, deck the shrine ( )
- 12. Return fond muse ( )
Celestial music did the gods inspire, Z322 (1689)
Come, ye Sons of Art, Z 323 (1694) (2 editions available)
- 5. Strike the viol (3 editions available)
Fly, bold rebellion, Z324 (1683)
From hardy climes and dangerous toils of war, Z325 (1683)
From those serene and rapturous joys, Z326 (1684)
Great parent, hail! Z327 (1694)
Hail, bright Cecilia! Z328 (1692)
- 3. Hark! each tree its silence breaks ( )
- 6. Thou tun'st this world below ( )
- 10. In vain the amorous flute (2 editions available)
Laudate Ceciliam, Z329 (1683)
Love's goddess sure was blind, Z331 (1692)
Now does the glorious day appear, Z332 (1689)

Of old when heroes thought it base (Yorkshire Feast Song), Z333 (1690)
- 3. The bashful Thames ( )
- 5. And in each track of glory ( )

Raise raise the voice, Z334 (c. 1685)
Sound the trumpet, beat the drum, Z335 (1678)
Swifter, Isis, swifter flow, Z336 (1681)
The summer's absence unconcerned we bear, Z337 (1682)
Welcome, welcome glorious morn, Z338 (1691)
Welcome to all the pleasures, Z 339 (1683) ( )
- 3. Here the deities approve ( )
Welcome, vicegerent of the mighty king, Z340 (1680)
What, what shall be done in behalf of the man? Z341 (1682)
Who can from joy refrain? Z342 (1695)
Why, why are all the Muses mute? Z343 (1685)
Ye tuneful Muses, Z344 (1686)

Songs

Aaron thus propos'd to Moses, Z 351 (1688) – Possibly not by Purcell
Ah! Cruel nymph, you give despair, Z 352 (Unknown)
Ah! how pleasant 'tis to love, Z 353 (1688)
Ah! Cruel nymph, you give despair, Z 354 (Unknown)
Amidst the shades and cool refreshing streams, Z 355 (1687)
Amintas, to my grief I see, Z 356 (1679)
Amintor, heedless of his flocks, Z 357 (1681)
Ask me to love no more, Z 358 (1694)
A thousand sev'ral ways I tried, Z 359 (1684)
Bacchus is a pow'r divine, Z 360 ( )
Beware, poor Shepherds, Z 361 (1684)
Cease, anxious world, Z 362 (1687)
Cease, O my sad soul, Z 363 (1678)
Celia's fond, too long I've loved her, Z 364 (1694)
Celia has a thousand charms, Z 609 ( )
Corinna is divinely fair, Z 365 (1692)
Cupid, the slyest rogue alive, Z 367 (1685)
Farewell, all joys, Z 368 (1685)
Fly swift, ye hours, Z 369 (1692)
From silent shades and the Elysian groves, Z 370 (1683)
Hears not my Phyllis, Z 371 (1695)
He himself courts his own ruin, Z 372 (1684)
How delightful's the life of an innocent swain, Z 373 (Unknown)
How I sigh when I think of the charms, Z 374 (1681)
I came, I saw, and was undone, Z 375 (Unknown)
I envy not a monarch's fate, Z 376 (1693)
I fain would be free, Z 377 (Unknown)

If grief has any power to kill, Z 378 (1685)
If music be the food of love, Z 379 ( ) (3 editions available)
If prayers and tears, Z 380 (Unknown)
I lov'd fair Celia, Z 381 (1694)
I love and I must, Z 382 (Unknown)
Incassum Lesbia, incassum rogas, Z 383 (1695)
In Cloris all soft charms, Z 384 (1684)
In these delightful pleasant groves ( )
In vain we dissemble, Z 385 (1685)
I resolve against cringing, Z 386 (1679)
I saw that you were grown so high, Z 387 (1678)
I take no pleasure in the sun's bright beams, Z 388 (1681)
Leave these useless arts in loving, Z 389 (Unknown)
Let each gallant heart, Z 390 (1683)
Let formal lovers still pursue, Z 391 (1687)
Lost is my quiet forever, Z 502 ( Sibelius 6 )
Love arms himself in Celia's eyes, Z 392 (Unknown)
Love is now become a trade, Z 393 (1685)
Lovely Albina's come ashore, Z 394 (Unknown)
Love's power in my heart shall find no compliance, Z 395 (1688)
Love, thou canst hear, tho' thou art blind, Z 396 (1695)
More love or more disdain I crave, Z 397 (1678)
My heart, wherever you appear, Z 399 (1685)
Not all my torments can your pity move, Z 400 (Unknown)
No watch, dear Celia, just is found, Z 401 (1693)
O! fair Cedaria, hide those eyes, Z 402 (Unknown)
O! how happy's he, Z 403 (1690)
Olinda in the shades unseen, Z 404 (Unknown)
On the brow of Richmond Hill, Z 405 (1692)
O solitude, my sweetest choice, Z 406 (1687)
Pastora's beauties when unblown, Z 407 (1681)
Phyllis, I can ne'er forgive it, Z 408 (1688)
Phillis, talk no more of passion, Z 409 (1685)
Pious Celinda goes to prayers, Z 410 (1695)
Rashly I swore I would disown, Z 411 (1683)
Sawney is a bonny lad, Z 412 (1694)
She loves and she confesses too, Z 413 (1683)
She that would gain a faithful lover, Z 414 (1695)
She who my poor heart possesses, Z 415 (1683)
Since one poor view has drawn my heart, Z 416 (1681)
Spite of the godhead, pow'rful love, Z 417 (1687)
Sweet, be no longer sad, Z 418 (1678)
Sylvia, now your scorn give over, Z 420 (1688)
The fatal hour comes on apace, Z 421 (Unknown)
They say you're angry, Z 422 (1685)
This poet sings the Trojan wars, Z 423 (1688)
Through mournful shades and solitary groves, Z 424 (1684)
Turn then thine eyes, Z 425 (Unknown)
Urge me no more, Z 426 (Unknown)
We now, my Thyrsis, never find, Z 427 (1693)
What a sad fate is mine, Z 428 (Unknown)
What can we poor females do?, Z 429 (1694)
When first Amintas sued for a kiss, Z 430 (1687)
When first my shepherdess and I, Z 431 (1687)
When her languishing eyes said 'love', Z 432 (1681)
When I a lover pale do see, Z 433 (1678)
When my Aemelia smiles, Z 434 (Unknown)
When Strephon found his passion vain, Z 435 (1683)
When Thyrsis did the splendid eye, Z 436 (1675)
While Thyrsis, wrapt in downy sleep, Z 437 (1685)
Whilst Cynthia sung, all angry winds lay still, Z 438 (1686)
Who but a slave can well express, Z 440 (Unknown)
Who can behold Florella's charms, Z 441 (1695)
Why so serious, why so grave?, Z 442 (Unknown)
Ye happy swains, whose nymphs are kind, Z 443 (1685)
Soft notes and gently raised, Z 510 ( Finale 2000 )
When as the mavis sweetly sings (3 editions available)

Theatre Music

Bonduca or The British Heroine, Z 574
- 13. Sing, sing, ye druids, Z 574/13 ( )
- 15. To arms, your ensigns straight display, Z 574/15 ( )
- 16. Britons, strike home ( )

Operas and semi-operas

Dido and Aeneas, Z 626
- Dido's Lament and Chorus ( ) PDFs and Midis available

Dioclesian, Z 627
- 6. Charon the peacefull shade invites ( )
- 8. Let all mankind the pleasure share ( )
- 13b. Since the toils and hazards of war ( )
- 18. What shall I do to show ( )
- App3. Let us dance, let us sing ( )

King Arthur, Z 628 (2 editions available)
- 16. Shepherd, leave decoying ( )
- 30a. For love ev'ry creature is form'd ( )
- 38. Fairest Isle (4 editions available)

The Fairy-Queen, Z 629
- 14. Hush, no more ( )
- 17. If love's a sweet passion (2 editions available)

The Indian Queen, Z 630
- 17c. I attempt from love's sickness to fly (3 editions available)

List of solo vocal works

Love quickly is pall'd, Z 632/11 ( )
Love thou art best of human joys, Z 596/1 ( )
Music for a while, Z 583/2 (2 editions available)
Next winter comes slowly, Z 629/36 ( Finale 2006 )
Nymphs and shepherds come away, Z 600/1 ( )
O let me weep, Z 629/40 ( )
O solitude, my sweetest choice, Z 406 ( )
Sound trumpet sound, beat ev'ry drum ( )
Sweeter than roses, Z 585/1 (2 editions available)
They shall be happy, Z 629/50ef ( )
This poet sings the Trojan wars (Anacreon's Defeat), Z 423 ( )
Turn then thine eyes, Z 629/50c ( )
We the spirits of the air, Z 630/17b ( )
What a sad fate, Z 428 ( )
What can we poor females do? Z 429 ( )
When the cock begins to crow, ZD 172 ( )
Why should men quarrel, Z 630/4d ( )

Click here to search for this composer on CPDL

External links

Biography on HOASM
The Last Renaissance Man - Fiction novel, based on Purcell's life
Purcell on the Chainki wiki of links
A scan of the original engraving of "Tis Nature's Voice" (PDF)
A scan of the original engraving of "A song sung by the girl in The Tempest" (PDF)
Complete list of works
Another reference for works

Contents

Life