PURCELL, Henry
b London, 1659
d London, 21 November 1695, aged thirty-six

He came from a musical family. He was a chorister in the Chapel Royal and in 1677 was appointed composer-in-ordinary for the violins there. Two years later he became organist at Westminster Abbey. His life was spent in writing, and his operas foreshadowed the later operatic advances made by Handel. The music he had composed for the funeral of Queen Mary in 1694 was performed at his own funeral a year later.

1680 (21)

Nine Fantasias of four parts c1682 (c23)

'Hear my prayer' Anthem

1683 (24)

Twelve Sonatas of three parts

1688 (29)

How Pleasant is this Flowery Plain, secular cantata

1689 (30)

fp Dido and Aeneas, opera

Musick's Handmaid, for harpsichord

1690 (31)

The Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian, opera

1691 (32)

King Arthur or The British Worthy, opera

The Wives' Excuse, incidental music

1692 (33)

The Faery Queen, opera

The Libertine, incidental music

Oedipus, incidental music

1693 (34)

Epsom Wells, incidental music

1694 (35)

The Married Beau, incidental music

1695 (36)

The Indian Queen, opera

The Tempest or The Enchanted Island, opera

Bonduca, incidental music

Performed posthumously:

1696 A choice collection of Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinet

Harpsichord Suites No 1

-8 Purcell also composed much church music, stage music, chamber music, complimentary odes to royalty, harpsichord pieces, etc.