Henry Purcell Masterpieces
English composer (1659–1695)
2
Commemorations 2025 (Death: Henry Purcell)
- pipe organ, harpsichord
- opera, hymn, ode
- Kingdom of England
- composer, organist, musicologist, music theorist, author
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Henry Purcell: most famous pieces
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) left a body of work of more than 520 compositions. To discover his repertoire, the question is: where to start? Perhaps with his main compositions and most famous works. But what are best known or most important works of Henry Purcell? How do they fit into his career, throughout his creative activity? Which genre dominates: instrumental music, vocal music or other? And beyond that, in what artistic and musical context: what other composers were at the same time, famous contemporaries of Purcell?
soclassiq offers you here, without bias, a selection of 5 major works to discover and listen to, like “Dido and Aeneas” or “The Fairy-Queen”. This selection is completed by 5 other compositions that are also quite famous. For sure the best of Henry Purcell, to make you want to go further with his other pieces or with the work of other composers who have significant similarities with the work of Purcell.
Creative activity
based on dated works only
Duration of the works
(average or estimed)
Number of works
1667
29 years
1695
Number of works
Duration of the works (average or estimed)
not qualified (3)
Work for choir (203)
Song, lied (158)
Opera (7)
Work for soloist (30)
Work for chamber orchestra (80)
Theatrical music (43)
Other renowned works
1695 - Abdelazer or The Moor's Revenge
1691 - King Arthur or The British Worthy
1680 - Fantasy in D minor
1680 - Fantasy in G minor
1680 - Fantasy in B-flat major
This selection of works is not the result of personal preferences or artistic opinion. Selected works come from an exclusive data analysis method developed by soclassiq.
The dating of the works can be precise or sometimes approximate. It may correspond to the premiere date or publication year or completion of the composition (that can be several years after its first public execution).
1650 .. 1690 : the essential composers
1685-1750 Johann Sebastian Bach °
1685-1759 George Frideric Handel °
1678-1741 Antonio Vivaldi °
1681-1767 Georg Philipp Telemann
1685-1757 Domenico Scarlatti
1653-1713 Arcangelo Corelli °
1637-1707 Dietrich Buxtehude
1585-1672 Heinrich Schütz
1660-1725 Alessandro Scarlatti
1668-1733 François Couperin °
1692-1770 Giuseppe Tartini
1632-1687 Jean-Baptiste Lully °
° : Masterpieces listed
On stage or recorded, listen these essential works Henry Purcell
Meet the greatest works of classical music
Currently, 25000+ works are listed for a small selection of 101 composers among thousands listed here. Many composers are missing of which some are essential: J. Rodriguo, C. Franck, H. Gorecki, C. Nielsen, J.Corigliano, P. Hindemith, C. Ives, A. Webern ... New catalogues will be processed later to complete this experience of the discovery of the classical music masterpieces. Thus this selection of works will be updated.
Vocal music
Incidental music
Through the ages
Some major genres or forms among the 150 listed
Concerto, Symphony, Rhapsody, Sonata, Lied, Mass, Suite, Trio, Quartet, Quintet, Waltz, March, Operetta, ...
Composed for piano, harpsichord, organ, violin, cello, viola, flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, string orchestra, string quartet, ...
The purpose of these pages is to point out few relevant works only among tens of thousands and to provide some chronological references.