Born in London, John Heptinstall set up as a Master Printer there in about 1683 and was active until about 1715. With Thomas Moore and Francis Clark he printed Vinculum Societatis in 1687, the first printed music using the 'new tied note' (quavers and semiquavers united in groups). Before then, such notes were printed separately because of the difficulty of connecting notes of different pitch in moveable type. Heptinstall also introduced the printing of round-headed notes in place of the former lozenge-shaped ones. He printed a number of works by Purcell including Amphitryon in 1690, The Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian in 1691, and The Double Dealer in 1694. In addition he printed a number of psalm books and publications by Henry Playford, including the 1703 edition of The Dancing Master .

The illustration (above) is of the frontispiece of Deliciciae Musicae printed in London by J. Heptinstall in 1694 for Henry Playford at his shop in the Temple Change and sold by Daniel Driver at the Harrow and Crown at the corner of Clifford Inn Lane, price one shilling. It states it is "a collection of the newest and best songs with additional musick to the Indian Queen by Mr Daniel Purcell as it is now acted at His Majesties Theatre. Most of the songs being within the compass of the flute with a thorow-bass, for the theorbo-lute, bass-viol, harpsichord or organ. Compiled by the best masters".

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