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

Sacred works

Morning canticles Benedicite in B flat, Z 230/3 Benedictus in B flat, Z 230/2 Jubilate Deo, Z 230/4 Te Deum and Jubilate in D, Z 232 Te Deum, Z 230/1

Evening canticles Cantate Domino in B flat, Z 230/9 Deus misereatur in B flat, Z 230/10 Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in B flat, Z 230/7 & 8 Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in G minor, Z 231

Services

• Communion service in B flat
  • Kyrie, Z 230/5
  • Nicene creed, Z 230/6
• Funeral Music for Queen Mary, Z 860

Anthems

See also a sortable table of Purcell 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 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) 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 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) Z 19, SATB with strings I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, Z 20 I will give thanks unto the Lord, Z 21 I will love thee, Z 67 I will sing unto the Lord, Z 22 In God's word will I rejoice an excerpt from Be merciful unto me, Z 4 Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei, Z 135 Let God arise, Z 23 Let mine eyes run down with tears, Z 24 Lord, how long wilt Thou be angry, Z 25 Lord, I can suffer thy rebukes, Z 136 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 O consider my adversity, Z 32 O give thanks unto the Lord, Z 33 O God, the King of glory, Z 34 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 Out of the deep, 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 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 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 Thy word is a lantern, Z 61 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 Begin the song (The Resurrection), Z 183 Close thine eyes and sleep secure, Z 184 Early, O Lord, my fainting soul, Z 132 (c. 1680) Full of wrath his threatening breath, Z 185 (Unknown) Gloria Patri, Z 103 (c. 1680) Gloria Patri, Z 104 – Canon 3 in 1 (c. 1680) Gloria Patri, Z 105 – Canon 4 in 1 (c. 1680) Gloria Patri, Z 106 – Canon 4 in 1 (c. 1680) Gloria Patri, 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 Hosanna to the highest, Z 187 (Unknown) How have I stray'd, Z 188 (published 1688) How long, great God?, Z 189 (published 1688) 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 Deum omnes gentes Canon 3 in one at the unison Laudate Dominum, Z 108 – Canon 3 in 1 (probably refers to "Laudate Deum") Let the night perish, Z 191 (published 1688) Lord, not to us, Z 137 Lord, what is man, Z 192 (published 1693) Miserere mei, Z 109 – Canon 4 in 2 (published 1687) Now that the sun hath veil'd his light, Z 193 O all ye people, clap your hands, Z 138 (c. 1680) O happy man that fears the Lord, Z 139 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 Blessed Virgin's Expostulation The earth trembled, Z 197 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) (in 10 catches) An ape, a lion, a fox and an ass, Z 241 (1686) As Roger last night to Jenny lay close, Z 242 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 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 He that drinks is immortal, Z 254 (1686) (in 10 catches) If all be true that I do think, Z 255 (1689) (in 10 catches) Jack Thou'rt a Toper, Z 574/10 (Unknown) I gave her cakes and I gave her ale, Z 256 (1690) Is Charleroy's Siege come to? Z 257 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 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) (in 10 catches) Once, Twice, Thrice, I Julia try'd, 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 (1691) Since the duke is return'd, Z 271 (1685) Since time so kind to us does prove, Z 272 Sir Walter enjoying his damsel, Z 273 (in 10 catches) (Unknown) Soldier, soldier, take off thy wine, Z 274 (Unknown) Sum up all the delights, Z 275 (1688) The Macedon Youth, Z 276 The miller's daughter riding, Z 277 (1686) The siege of Limerick, Z 278 (1691) (in 10 catches) 'Tis easy to force, Z 279 (1685) 'Tis too late for a coach, Z 280 (1686) 'Tis women makes us love, Z 281 (1685)(in 10 catches) To all lovers of music, Z 282 (1687) To thee, to thee and to a Maid, Z 283 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 Under this stone lies Gabriel John, Z 286 (1686) When V and I together meet, Z 287 (1686) (in 10 catches) 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 Young Colin cleaving of a beam, Z 291 (1691) Young John the Gard'ner, Z 292

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) 5. Strike the viol 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, Z 328 (1692) 3. Hark! each tree its silence breaks 6. Thou tun'st this world below 10. In vain the amorous flute 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 (A-H)

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) Alas, how barbarous we are, Z 482 (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 Beneath a dark and melancholy grove, Z 461 (Unknown) Bess of Bedlam see From silent shades, Z 370 Beware, poor Shepherds, Z 361 (1684) Britons, strike home! Z 574/16 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 Come, dear companions of th'Arcadian fields, Z 483 (1686) Come, lay by all care, Z 484 (1685) Cupid, the slyest rogue alive, Z 367 (1685) Corinna is divinely fair, Z 365 (1692) Draw near, you lovers, Z 462 (Unknown) Dulcibella, when e'er I sue for a kiss, Z 485 (1694)

Fair Cloe, my breast so alarms, Z 486 (1692) Farewell, all joys, Z 368 (1685) Farewell, ye rocks, Z 463 (1685) Fill the bowl with rosy wine, Z 487 (1687) Fly swift, ye hours, Z 369 (1692) From silent shades and the Elysian groves, Z 370 (1683) Gently shepherds, you that know, Z 464 (1687) Go tell Amynta, gentle swain, Z 489 (Unknown) Hark Damon, hark, Z 541 (Unknown) Hark how the wild musicians sing, Z 542 (Unknown) Haste, gentle Charon, Z 490 (Unknown) A dialogue between Charon and Orpheus Has yet your breast no pity learn'd? Z 491 (1688) Hears not my Phyllis, Z 371 (1695) He himself courts his own ruin, Z 372 (1684) Hence, fond deceiver, Z 492 (1687) Here's to thee, Dick, Z 493 (1688) High on a throne of glitt'ring ore, Z 465 (1690) How delightful's the life of an innocent swain, Z 373 (Unknown) How great are the blessings 'A Health to King James', Z 494 (1686) How I sigh when I think of the charms, Z 374 (1681) How pleasant is this flowery plain, Z 543 (1688) How sweet is the air and refreshing, Z 495 (1687)

Songs (I-R)

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) I love and I must, Z 382 (Unknown) I loved fair Celia, Z 381 (1694) I resolve against cringing, Z 386 (1679) I saw fair Cloris all alone, Z 498 (1687) I saw that you were grown so high, Z 387 (1678) I see she flies me, Z 573 I spy Celia, Celia eyes me, Z 499 (1687) I take no pleasure in the sun's bright beams, Z 388 (1681) If ever I more riches did desire, Z 544 (Unknown) If grief has any power to kill, Z 378 (1685) If music be the food of love, Z 379 If prayers and tears, Z 380 (Unknown) In a deep vision's intellectual scene 'The Complaint', Z 545 (Unknown) In all our Cynthia's shining sphere, Z 496 (Unknown) In Cloris all soft charms, Z 384 (1684) In some kind dream, Z 497 (1687) In these delightful pleasant groves In vain we dissemble, Z 385 (1685) Incassum Lesbia, incassum rogas, Z 383 (1695) Julia, your unjust disdain, Z 500 (1687) Leave these useless arts in loving, Z 389 (Unknown) Let each gallant heart, Z 390 (1683) Let formal lovers still pursue, Z 391 (1687) Let Hector, Achilles and each brave commander, Z 501 (1689) Let us, kind Lesbia, give away, Z 466 (1684)

Lost is my quiet forever, Z 502 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) Love thou art best of human joys, Z 596/1 More love or more disdain I crave, Z 397 (1678) Music for a while, Z 583/2 Musing on cares of human fate, Z 467 (1685) My heart, wherever you appear, Z 399 (1685) Nestor, who did to thrice man's age attain, Z 503 (1689) Not all my torments can your pity move, Z 400 (Unknown) No, to what purpose should I speak, Z 468 (Unknown) No watch, dear Celia, just is found, Z 401 (1693) Nymphs and shepherds come away, Z 600/1 O dive custos auriacae domus, Z 504 (1695) O! fair Cedaria, hide those eyes, Z 402 (Unknown) O! how happy's he, Z 403 (1690) O solitude, my sweetest choice, Z 406 (1687) Oft am I by the women told, Z 505 (1687) Oh! what a scene does entertain my sight, Z 506 (Unknown) Olinda in the shades unseen, Z 404 (Unknown) On the brow of Richmond Hill, Z 405 (1692) 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)

Songs (S-Z)

Saccharissa's grown old, Z 507 (1686) Sawney is a bonny lad, Z 412 Scarce had the rising sun appear'd, Z 469 (1679) See where she sits, Z 508 (Unknown) 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) See how the fading glories of the year, Z 470 (1689) Since one poor view has drawn my heart, Z 416 (1681) Since the pox or the plague, Z 471 (1679) Sing, sing, ye druids, Z 574/13 Sit down, my dear Sylvia, Z 509 (1685) Soft notes and gently raised, Z 510 Sound trumpet sound, beat ev'ry drum Spite of the godhead, pow'rful love, Z 417 (1687) Strike the viol, Z 232/5 Stript of their green our groves appear, Z 444 (1692) Sweet, be no longer sad, Z 418 (1678) Sweeter than roses, Z 585/1 Sylvia, now your scorn give over, Z 420 (1688) Sylvia, thou brighter eye of night, Z 511 (Unknown) Sylvia, 'tis true you're fair, Z 512 (1686) The fatal hour comes on apace, Z 421 (Unknown) There never was so wretched lover as I, Z 513 (Unknown) They say you're angry, Z 422 (1685) This poet sings the Trojan wars (Anacreon's Defeat), Z 423 Though my mistress be fair, Z 514 (1685) Through mournful shades and solitary groves, Z 424 (1684) 'Tis wine was made to rule the day, Z 546 (Unknown) To arms, your ensigns straight display, Z 574/15 Trip it, trip it in a ring, Z 515 (Unknown) Turn then thine eyes, Z 425 (Unknown) Underneath this myrtle shade, Z 516 (1692)

Urge me no more, Z 426 (Unknown) We now, my Thyrsis, never find, Z 427 (1693) We reap all the pleasures, Z 547 (Unknown) Were I to choose the greatest bliss, Z 517 (1689) What a sad fate, Z 428 What can we poor females do? Z 429 (1694) What can we poor females do? Z 518 (Unknown) What hope for us remains now he is gone? Z 472 (1679) When as the mavis sweetly sings When first Amintas sued for a kiss, Z 430 (1687) When first my shepherdess and I, Z 431 (1687) When gay Philander left the plain, Z 519 (1984) When her languishing eyes said 'love', Z 432 (1681) When I a lover pale do see, Z 433 (1678) When, lovely Phyllis, thou art kind, Z 520 (1985) When my Aemelia smiles, Z 434 (Unknown) When Myra sings, Z 521 (1695) When Strephon found his passion vain, Z 435 (1683) When Teucer from his father fled, Z 522 (1686) When the cock begins to crow, ZD 172 When Thyrsis did the splendid eye, Z 436 (1675) While bolts and bars my days control, Z 523 (Unknown) While Thyrsis, wrapt in downy sleep, Z 437 (1685) While you for me alone had charms, Z 524 (Unknown) 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, my Daphne, why complaining? Z 525 (1691) Why so serious, why so grave?, Z 442 (Unknown) Ye happy swains, whose nymphs are kind, Z 443 (1685) Young Thyrsis’ fate ye Hills and Groves deplore, Z 473 (1688)

Operas and semi-operas

Dido and Aeneas, Z 626 Dido's Lament and Chorus 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 16. Shepherd, leave decoying 28. Your hay it is mow'd 30a. For love ev'ry creature is form'd 38. Fairest Isle

The Fairy-Queen, Z 629 14. Hush, no more 17. If love's a sweet passion 36. Next winter comes slowly 40. O let me weep 48. Hark! The echoing air a triumph sings 50c. Turn then thine eyes 50ef. They shall be happy The Indian Queen, Z 630 4d. Why should men quarrel 17b. We the spirits of the air 17c. I attempt from love's sickness to fly The Tempest, Z 631 Timon of Athens, Z 632 2. Hark! how the songsters of the grove 5. Hence! Hence! Hence with your trifling deity 11. Love quickly is pall'd

Other works not listed above (See Template:CheckMissing for possible reasons and solutions)

• Blessed city, heavenly Salem
• Lasst uns freudig Dankeslieder
• The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel

Click here to search for this composer on CPDL

Publications

• Harmonia Sacra, or Select Anthems In Score c. 1688

External links

• Works by Henry Purcell in the Petrucci Music Library (IMSLP)
• 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