How did the Purcell Society preserve and publish Henry Purcell’s music?

Founded in 1876, the Purcell Society was established to create authoritative and authentic editions of the music of Henry Purcell, marking the first serious, systematic effort to publish his complete works.12

The society’s publication process spanned nearly a century:
* Initial Progress: The first volume was issued in 1878, followed by the second in 1882. Subsequent volumes were released at intervals between 1889 and 1928.1
* Completion: After a period of inactivity, the project resumed in 1957. The full collection was finally completed in 32 volumes by 1965.1
* Revision: To ensure accuracy, the society engaged in the ongoing revision of earlier volumes, a process that occurred simultaneously with the publication of later works, beginning with a revised edition of Dioclesian in 1961.1

This scholarly dedication ensured that Purcell’s diverse output—which had been only sporadically printed in the centuries following his death—was preserved in a comprehensive and reliable format.12