Elizabethan Musicians - Elizabethan Musical Instruments
Music played an important role in the lives of the people who lived during the Elizabethan era. Elizabethan Music was a major form of entertainment. The collection of Elizabethan musical instruments included the musical instruments from the Medieval period together with the musical instruments which emerged during the Elizabethan era. The introduction of new musical instruments such as the early violin called the viol, the early oboe called the hautboy and the keyboard musical instruments called the spinet, harpsichord and the virginals provided the sounds which produced a much more refined sound than had been produced during the Medieval era.The virginals was a keyboard instrument similar to a harpsichord. Combinations of musical instruments, as in the modern orchestra, were still in the experimental stage but provided the opportunity to create unusual and creative music. Queen Elizabeth was a patron of all the Arts and encouraged Elizabethan Musicians. Music and Song lyrics were printed during the Elizabethan era but these were sold as separate documents. The Elizabethan composer John Dowland (1563-1626), a University Graduate in Music, published his ' First Booke of Songes or Ayres' in 1597. It became a best seller and highly profitable to the Publisher. Other popular Musicians followed suit.
Elizabethan Musicians
The following list details facts and information about famous Elizabethan Musicians :
- Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585)
- John Taverner (c.1495-1545)
- *John Bennet (1575-1614)
- *John Bull (1562-1628)
- William Blitheman (1525 - 1591)
- *William Byrd (1543-1623)
- *Thomas Campion (1567-1620)
- *Richard Carlton (c1558-1638)
- *Michael Cavendish (c1565-1628)
- *John Dowland (1563-1626)
- *John Farmer (c.1570-1601)
- *Giles Farnaby (c1560-c1620)
- *George Kirbye (c1565-1634)
- *Thomas Morley (1557-1602)
- *John Mundy (1550-1630)
- *Francis Pilkington (c1570-1638)
- Thomas Ravenscroft (1590-1633)
- John Redford (1485-1543)
- *Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
- Philip Rosseter (c.1575-1623)
- John Shepherd (c. 1515-1558)
- *Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656)
- Christopher Tye (c.1500-1573)
- Robert Johnson (c.1500-1560)
- *John Ward (1571-1638)
- *Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623)
- *John Wilbye (1574-1638)
*The English Madrigal School*
The above Elizabethan Musicians indicated with * were famous for composing Madrigals and referred to as members of the English Madrigal School.
John Bennet (1575-1614)
John Bennet published 'Madrigals for Four Voices' in 1599 and the 'Triumphs of Oriana' in 1601.
William Blitheman (1525 - 1591)
William Blitheman was organist to Elizabeth I's Chapel Royal and a composer of church and virginal music.
William Byrd (1543-1623)
William Byrd was Queen Elizabeth's favourite composer who wrote church, consort and vocal music. Byrd and Thomas Tallis were granted an exclusive license to print and publish music by Elizabeth I.
Thomas Campion (1567-1620)
Thomas Campion was a physician, poet and composer of over 100 songs for the lute.
John Dowland (1563-1626)
The Elizabethan composer John Dowland was a University Graduate in Music, published his ' First Booke of Songes or Ayres' in 1597. It became a best seller and highly profitable to the Publisher.
John Farmer (c.1570-1601)
John Farmer composed one of the most popular pieces of this period, the madrigal "Fair Phyllis I saw sitting all alone".
Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
Orlando Gibbons was the leading English composer of his generation. He held positions as Organist of the Royal Chapel and finally organist at Westminster Abbey. Gibbons is also well-known for his sacred choral music, hymns and anthems.
Robert Johnson (c.1500-1560)
Robert Johnson composed 'Full fathom five' and 'Where the Bee Sucks' which were written for the first performance of the Tempest by William Shakespeare.
Thomas Morley (1557-1602)
Thomas Morley wrote music for the liturgy of the Church of England. Morley was employed at St. Paul's in London and became a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in 1592.
John Mundy (1550-1630)
John Mundy was the Organist of St. George’s, Windsor. Singer, composer and Gentleman of the Chapel Royal. Composed liturgical music for the new Prayer book.
Thomas Ravenscroft (1590-1633)
Thomas Ravenscroft a composer of rounds and catches, and especially for compiling collections of British folk music. He sang in the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral.
Philip Rosseter (c.1575-1623)
Philip Rosseter composed 'A Booke of Ayres' with Thomas Campion.
Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585)
Thomas Tallis was from humble monastic choral foundations but rose to be the foremost member of England’s Chapel Royal. He is often referred to as the "father of English church music". Tallis and William Byrd were granted an exclusive license to print and publish music by Elizabeth I.
John Taverner (c.1495-1545)
John Taverner served in a prestigious post at the short-lived Cardinal College at Oxford and was the leading English composer of his generation, and one of the most influential of English Musicians.
Christopher Tye (c.1500-1573)
Christopher Tye was an English organist and composer of choral and instrumental music.
