Selected Recordings

The Fairy Queen, Overture

Jubilate Deo in D major

Passacaglia from King Arthur

Selected Sheet Music

Te Deum and Jubilate in D

Source: CPDL.org

Showcase Piece

Rondo from Abdelazer

Notes and Commentary

“Though he is acknowledged to be the most ‘English’ of all English composers, and though he is certainly one of the greatest, Henry Purcell was not altogether free of foreign influences. He himself confessed that in his sonatas he ‘faithfully endeavored a just imitation of the most famed Italian masters.’ By way of Italy, too, come many of Purcell’s instrumental fantasias and vocal recitatives. In his anthems, Purcell betrays the impact upon him of the French motet.”—David Ewen, The Complete Book of Classical Music

Henry Purcell was an English composer. Although incorporating Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, Purcell’s legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest English composers; no other native-born English composer approached his fame until Edward Elgar. He lived from September 10, 1659, to November 21, 1695.

Purcell is said to have had a strong influence on the composers of the English musical renaissance of the early 20th century, most notably Benjamin Britten, who created and performed a realisation of Dido and Aeneas and whose The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra is based on a theme from Purcell’s Abdelazar.—Excerpted from Wikipedia

In popular culture, Pete Townshend of The Who has said Purcell’s harmonies were a big influence on the band’s music, particularly in “Pinball Wizard.”

Books and Music

Selected Books

Henry Purcell, 1659-1695: His Life and Times
University of Pennsylvania Press, 1983
Franklin B. Zimmerman
$88.88 on Amazon
Used copies from $9

Henry Purcell: The Origins and Development of his Musical Style
Cambridge University Press, 2009
Martin Adams
$55 on Amazon

“This is the first book thoroughly to explore the musical style of Henry Purcell. In this study, Martin Adams identifies music by other composers, both within England and from abroad, which influenced Purcell’s compositional decisions. Using a mix of broad stylistic observation and detailed analysis, Adams distinguishes between late seventeenth-century English style in general and Purcell’s style in particular and chronicles the changes in the composer’s approach to the main genres in which he worked, especially the newly emerging ode and English opera. As a result, Adams reveals that although Purcell went through a marked stylistic development, encompassing an unusually wide range of surface changes, special elements of his style remained constant.”—From Amazon

Henry Purcell and the London Stage
Cambridge University Press, 2009
Curtis A. Price
$57 on Amazon

“The first comprehensive survey of Purcell’s dramatic music. It is concerned as much with the London theatre world—playhouses, poets, actors, singers, producers—as with the music itself. Purcell wrote music for more than fifty plays of various types, most of them produced at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, between 1690 and 1695.”—From Amazon

Selected Music
The Complete Sacred Music of Henry Purcell, 11-CD boxed set

Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, 1 CD

Abdelazer: Suites by Henry Purcell, 2-CD set (with commentary)

More Henry Purcell music

Complete Works

The following compilation is from Wikipedia.

Pieces listed according to the Zimmerman catalogue.

Anthems [Z 1–65]

• Z 1, Verse Anthem, “Awake, put on thy strength” (c. 1682–85)
• Z 2, Verse Anthem, “Behold, I bring you glad tidings” (1687)
• Z 3, Verse Anthem, “Behold now, praise the Lord” (c. 1680)
• Z 4, Verse Anthem, “Be merciful unto me” (before 1683)
• Z 5, Verse Anthem, “Blessed are they that fear the Lord” (1688)
• Z 6, Verse Anthem, “Blessed be the Lord my strength” (before 1679)
• Z 7, Verse Anthem, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor” (c. 1688)
• Z 8, Verse Anthem, “Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven” (c. 1680–92)
• Z 9, Verse Anthem, “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord” (c. 1688)
• Z 10, Full Anthem, “Blow up the trumpet in Sion” (before 1679)
• Z 11, Verse Anthem, “Bow down thine ear, O Lord” (c. 1680–82)
• Z 12, Verse Anthem, “Give sentence with me, O Lord” (before 1681)
• Z 13, Verse Anthem, “Hear me, O Lord, and that soon” (c. 1680–82) – [There are 2 arrangements of this piece, Z 13A and Z 13B respectively]
• Z 14, Verse Anthem, “Hear my prayer, O God” (before 1683)
• Z 15, Full Anthem, “Hear my prayer, O Lord” (before 1683)
• Z 16, Verse Anthem, “In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust” (c. 1682)
• Z 17, Full Anthem, “In the midst of life” (before 1682) – [There are 2 arrangements of this piece, Z 17A and Z 17B respectively]
• Z 18, Verse Anthem, “It is a good thing to give thanks” (c. 1682–85)
• Z 19, Verse Anthem, “I was glad when they said unto me” (c. 1682–83)
• Z 20, Verse Anthem, “I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord” (c. 1682–85)
• Z 21, Verse Anthem, “I will give thanks unto the Lord” (c. 1680–82)
• Z 22, Full Anthem, “I will sing unto the Lord” (before 1679)
• Z 23, Verse Anthem, “Let God arise” (before 1679)
• Z 24, Verse Anthem, “Let mine eyes run down with tears” (c. 1682)
• Z 25, Full Anthem, “Lord, how long wilt Thou be angry?” (c. 1680–82)
• Z 26, Verse Anthem, “Lord, who can tell how oft he offendeth?” (c. 1677)
• Z 27, Full Anthem, “Man that is born of woman” (c. 1680–82)
• Z 28, Verse Anthem, “My beloved spake” (before 1677)
• Z 29, Verse Anthem, “My heart is fixed, O God” (c. 1682–85)
• Z 30, Verse Anthem, “My heart is inditing” (1685)
• Z 31, Verse Anthem, “My song shall be always” (1690)
• Z 32, Verse Anthem, “O consider my adversity” (Unknown)
• Z 33, Verse Anthem, “O give thanks unto the Lord” (1693)
• Z 34, Full Anthem, “O God, the king of glory” (before 1679)
• Z 35, Full Anthem, “O God, thou art my god” (c. 1680–82)
• Z 36, Full Anthem, “O God, thou has cast us out” (c. 1680–82)
• Z 37, Full Anthem, “O Lord God of hosts” (c. 1680–82)
• Z 38, Verse Anthem, “O Lord, grant the King a long life” (1685)
• Z 39, Verse Anthem, “O Lord, our governor” (before 1679)
• Z 40, Verse Anthem, “O Lord, rebuke me not” (Unknown)
• Z 41, Verse Anthem, “O Lord, Thou art my God” (c. 1680–82)
• Z 42, Verse Anthem, “O praise God in his holiness” (c. 1682–85)
• Z 43, Verse Anthem, “O praise the Lord, all ye heathen” (before 1681)
• Z 44, Verse Anthem, “O sing unto the Lord” (1688)
• Z 45, Verse Anthem, “Out of the deep have I called” (c. 1680)
• Z 46, Verse Anthem, “Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem” (1689) – [There is another Z 46, a fragment of a Verse Anthem, “Praise the Lord, ye servants”]
• Z 47, Verse Anthem, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me” (c. 1682–85)
• Z 48, Verse Anthem, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, O Lord my God” (1687)
• Z 49, Verse Anthem, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (c. 1682–85)
• Z 50, Full Anthem, “Remember not, O Lord, our offences” (c. 1680–82)
• Z 51, Full Anthem, “Save me, O God” (before 1681)
• Z 52, Verse Anthem, “Sing unto God” (1687)
• Z 53, Verse Anthem, “The Lord is king, be the people never so impatient” (Unknown)
• Z 54, Verse Anthem, “The Lord is King, the earth may be glad [thereof]” (1688)
• Z 55, Verse Anthem, “The Lord is my light” (c. 1682–85)
• Z 56, Verse Anthem, “The way of God is an undefiled way” (1694)
• Z 57, Verse Anthem, “They that go down to the sea in ships” (1685)
• Z 58, Verse Anthem, “Thou know’st, Lord, the secrets of our hearts” (1687) – [There are 2 arrangements of this piece, Z 58A Z 58B, and a further Z 58C, which is a Full Anthem]
• Z 59, Full Anthem, “Thy righteousness, O God, is very high” (Unknown)
• Z 60, Verse Anthem, “Thy way, O God, is holy” (1687)
• Z 61, Verse Anthem, “Thy word is a lantern unto my feet” (Unknown)
• Z 62, Verse Anthem, “Turn thou us, O good Lord” (Unknown)
• Z 63, Verse Anthem, “Unto Thee will I cry” (c. 1682–85)
• Z 64, Verse Anthem, “Who hath believed our report?” (c. 1679–80)
• Z 65, Verse Anthem, “Why do the heathen so furiously rage together?” (c. 1682–85)

Hymns and Sacred Songs [Z 101–200]

• Z 101, Catch, “Joy, mirth, triumphs I do defy” (Unknown) – [Possibly originally an Alleluia]
• Z 103, Canon, “Gloria Patri et Filio” (c. 1680)
• Z 104, Canon, “Gloria Patri et Filio” – Canon 3 in 1 (c. 1680)
• Z 105, Canon, “Gloria Patri et Filio” – Canon 4 in 1 per arsin et thesin (c. 1680)
• Z 106, Canon, “Gloria Patri et Filio” – Canon 4 in 1 (c. 1680)
• Z 107, Canon, “Gloria Patri et Filio” – Canon 7 in 1 at the unison (Unknown)
• Z 108, Canon, “Laudate Dominum” – Canon 3 in 1 (Unknown)
• Z 109, Canon, “Misere Mei” – Canon 4 in 2 (published 1687)
• Z 120, Chant in A minor (Unknown) – [Z 120 through Z 125 are of doubtful provenance]
• Z 121, Chant in G major (Unknown)
• Z 122, Chant in G major (Unknown)
• Z 123, Chant in D minor (Unknown)
• Z 124, Chant in G major (Unknown)
• Z 125, Burford psalm-tune in G minor (Unknown)
• Z 130, Hymn, “Ah! few and full of sorrow” (c. 1680)
• Z 131, Hymn, “Beati omnes [qui timent Dominium]” (c. 1680)
• Z 132, Hymn, “Early, O Lord, my fainting soul” (c. 1680)
• Z 133, Hymn, “Hear me, O Lord, the great support” (1680–82)
• Z 134, Hymn, “In guilty night” (published 1693)
• Z 135, Hymn, “Jehova, quam multi sunt [hestes]” (c. 1680)
• Z 136, Hymn, “Lord, I can suffer thy rebukes” (c. 1680)
• Z 137, Hymn, “Lord, not to us, but to thy name” (c. 1680)
• Z 138, Hymn, “O all ye people, clap your hands” (c. 1680)
• Z 139, Hymn, “O happy man that fears the Lord” (Unknown)
• Z 140, Hymn, “O, I’m sick of life” (c. 1680)
• Z 141, Hymn, “O Lord our governor” (c. 1680)
• Z 142, Hymn, “Plung’d in the confines of despair” (c. 1680)
• Z 143, Hymn, “Since God, so tender a regard” (c. 1680)
• Z 144, Hymn, “When on my sickbed I languish” (c. 1680)
• Z 181, Hymn, “Awake, and with attention hear” (published 1681)
• Z 182, Hymn, “Awake, ye dead” (published 1693)
• Z 183, Hymn, “Begin the song, and strike the living lyre” (published 1681)
• Z 184, Hymn, “Close thine eyes and sleep secure” (published 1688)
• Z 185, Hymn, “Full of wrath his threatening breath” (Unknown)
• Z 186, Hymn, “Great God and just” (published 1688)
• Z 187, Hymn, “Hosanna to the highest” (Unknown)
• Z 188, Hymn, “How have I strayed” (published 1688)
• Z 189, Hymn, “How long, great God?” (published 1688)
• Z 190, Hymn, “In the black dismal dungeon of despair” (published 1688)
• Z 191, Hymn, “Let the night perish” (published 1688)
• Z 192, Hymn, “Lord, what is man?” (published 1693)
• Z 193, Hymn, “Now that the sun hath veiled his light” (published 1688)
• Z 195, Hymn, “Sleep, Adam[, sleep and take thy rest]” (published 1688)
• Z 196, Hymn, “Tell me, some pitying angel” (published 1693)
• Z 197, Hymn, “The earth trembled” (published 1688)
• Z 198, Hymn, “Thou wakeful shepherd” (published 1688)
• Z 199, Hymn, “We sing to him, whose wisdom form’d the ear” (published 1688)
• Z 200, Hymn, “With sick and famish’d eyes” (published 1688)

Services [Z 230–232]

• Z 230/1, Morning Service, “Te Deum Laudamus in B-flat major” (before 1682)
• Z 230/2, Morning Service, “Benedictus in B-flat major” (before 1682)
• Z 230/3, Morning Service, “Benedicite Omnia Opera in B-flat major” (before 1682)
• Z 230/4, Morning Service, “Jubilate Deo in B-flat major” (before 1682)
• Z 230/5, Communion Service, “Kyrie Eleison in B-flat major” (before 1682)
• Z 230/6, Communion Service, “Nicene Creed in B-flat major” (before 1682)
• Z 230/7, Evening Service, “Magnificat in B-flat major” (before 1682)
• Z 230/8, Evening Service, “Nunc dimittis in B-flat major” (before 1682)
• Z 230/9, Evening Service, “Cantate Domino in B-flat major” (before 1682)
• Z 230/10, Evening Service, “Deus misereator in B-flat major” (before 1682)
• Z 231, Evening Service, “Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in G minor” (Unknown)
• Z 232, Morning Service, “Te Deum and Jubilate Deo in D major” (1694)

Catches [Z 240–292]

• Z 240, Catch, “A health to the nut-brown lass” (1685)
• Z 241, Catch, “An ape, a lion, a fox and an ass” (1686)
• Z 242, Catch, “As Roger last night to Jenny lay close” (Unknown)
• Z 243, Catch, “Bring the bowl and cool Nantz” (1693–94)
• Z 244, Catch, “Call for the reckoning” (Unknown)
• Z 245, Catch, “Come let us drink” (Unknown)
• Z 246, Catch, “Come my hearts, play your parts” (1685)
• Z 247, Catch, “Down, down with Bacchus” (1693)
• Z 248, Catch, “Drink on till night be spent” (1686)
• Z 249, Catch, “Full bags, a brisk bottle” (1686)
• Z 250, Catch, “God save our sovereign Charles” (1685)
• Z 251, Catch, “Great Apollo and Bacchus” (Unknown)
• Z 252, Catch, “Here’s a health, pray let it pass” (Unknown)
• Z 253, Catch, “Here’s that will challenge all the fair” (1680)
• Z 254, Catch, “He that drinks is immortal” (1686)
• Z 255, Catch, “If all be true that I do think” (1689)
• Z 256, Catch, “I gave her cakes and I gave her ale” (1690)
• Z 257, Catch, “Is Charleroy’s siege come too?” (1693)
• Z 258, Catch, “Let the grave folks go preach” (1685)
• Z 259, Catch, “Let us drink to the blades” (1691)
• Z 260, Catch, “My lady’s coachman, John” (1688)
• Z 261, Catch, “Now England’s great council’s assembled” (1685)
• Z 262, Catch, “Now, now we are met and humours agree” (1688)
• Z 263, Catch, “Of all the instruments that are” (1693)
• Z 264, Catch, “Once in our lives let us drink to our wives” (1686)
• Z 265, Catch, “Once, twice, thrice, I Julia tried” (Unknown)
• Z 266, Catch, “One industrious insect” (Unknown)
• Z 267, Catch, “Pale faces, stand by” (1688)
• Z 268, Catch, “Pox on you for a fop” (Unknown)
• Z 269, Catch, “Prithee be n’t so sad and serious” (Unknown)
• Z 270, Catch, “Room for th’express” (1694)
• Z 271, Catch, “Since the duke is return’s” (1685)
• Z 272, Catch, “Since time so kind to us does prove” (Unknown)
• Z 273, Catch, “Sir Walter enjoying his damsel” (Unknown)
• Z 274, Catch, “Soldier, soldier, take off thy wine” (Unknown)
• Z 275, Catch, “Sum up all the delights” (1688)
• Z 276, Catch, “The Macedon youth” (1686)
• Z 277, Catch, “The miller’s daughter riding” (1686)
• Z 278, Catch, “The surrender of Limerick” (1691)
• Z 279, Catch, “‘Tis easy to force” (1685)
• Z 280, Catch, “‘Tis too late for a coach” (1686)
• Z 281, Catch, “‘Tis women makes us love” (1685)
• Z 282, Catch, “To all lovers of music” (1687)
• Z 283, Catch, “To thee, to thee and to a maid” (1685)
• Z 284, Catch, “True Englishmen drink a good health” (c. 1689)
• Z 285, Catch, “Under a green elm lies Luke Shepherd’s helm” (1686)
• Z 286, Catch, “Under this stone lies Gabriel John” (1686)
• Z 287, Catch, “When V and I together meet” (1686)
• Z 288, Catch, “Who comes there?” (1685)
• Z 289, Catch, “Wine in a morning makes us frolic and gay” (1686)
• Z 290, Catch, “Would you know how we meet” (1685)
• Z 291, Catch, “Young Colin cleaving of a beam” (1691)
• Z 292, Catch, “Young John the gard’ner” (1683)

Odes and Welcome Songs [Z 320–344]

• Z 320, Ode, “Arise my Muse” (1690)
• Z 321, Ode, “Celebrate this festival” (1693)
• Z 322, Ode, “Celestial music did the gods inspire” (1689)
• Z 323, Ode, “Come Ye Sons of Art” (1694)
• Z 324, Ode, “Fly, bold rebellion” (1683)
• Z 325, Ode, “From hardy climes and dangerous toils of war” (1683)
• Z 326, Ode, “From those serene and rapturous joys” (1684)
• Z 327, Ode, “Great parent, hail!” (1694)
• Z 328, Ode, “Hail, bright Cecilia!” (1692)
• Z 329, Ode, “Laudate Ceciliam” (1683)
• Z 331, Ode, “Love’s goddess sure was blind” (1692)
• Z 332, Ode, “Now does the glorious day appear” (1689)
• Z 333, Ode, “Of old when heroes thought it base” (1690)
• Z 334, Ode, “Raise raise the voice” (c. 1685)
• Z 335, Ode, “Sound the trumpet, beat the drum” (1678)
• Z 336, Ode, “Swifter, Isis, swifter flow” (1681)
• Z 337, Ode, “The summer’s absence unconcerned we bear” (1682)
• Z 338, Ode, “Welcome, welcome glorious morn” (1691)
• Z 339, Ode, “Welcome to all the pleasures” (1683)
• Z 340, Ode, “Welcome, vicegerent of the mighty king” (1680)
• Z 341, Ode, “What, what shall be done in behalf of the man?” (1682)
• Z 342, Ode, “Who can from joy refrain?” (1695)
• Z 343, Ode, “Why, why are all the Muses mute?” (1685)
• Z 344, Ode, “Ye tuneful Muses” (1686)

For complete list, which runs into the hundreds, go to Purcell’s “Complete Works” page.

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