Twelve Good Musicians: From John Bull to Henry Purcell — John Shaqi
Twelve Good Musicians: From John Bull to Henry PurcellBridge, Frederick
History
Twelve Good Musicians: From John Bull to Henry Purcell
Bridge, Frederick
Musicians -- England
His Sacred works include two Services and an Anthem, which was
published in Barnard's collection, and a setting of the Burial Service,
which appears in Boyce's collection. There are also examples, in MS.
amongst the Harleian MSS., in the Christ Church Library at Oxford, and
the Fitzwilliam and Peterhouse Libraries at Cambridge. A curious
thing, rather, in connection with his Sacred works is, that, unlike his
secular compositions, none was published during his lifetime.
His style was not so broad as that of Tallis or so noble as that of
Byrd, but he had a great influence upon the art. His own compositions
include examples of his talent in many directions. As a theoretical
writer he is really distinguished above his contemporaries, and
contributed to the stores of Sacred, Secular, and Instrumental music,
besides writing for the stage.
{28}
Morley's early death was a real loss to English music, and he was
mourned by all his contemporaries. One of the most touching
testimonies is a beautiful _Lament for Six Voices_ by Thomas Weelkes,
himself a distinguished composer, whom we shall consider later. The
words are as follows:
A remembrance of my friend Mr. Thomas Morley.
Death hath deprived me of my dearest friend,
My dearest friend is dead and laid in grave,
In grave he rests until the world shall end,
The world shall end, as end must all things have.
All things must have an end that nature wrought
That nature wrought must unto dust be brought.
Another poetical testimony to Morley was written in his life-time, and
may be given here. It is supposed to be by Michael Drayton:
Such was old Orpheus' cunning,
That senseless things drew near him;
And herds of beasts to hear him.
The stock, the stone, the ox, the ass came running.
Morley! but this enchanting
To thee, to be the music god, is wanting;
And yet thou needst not fear him.
Draw thou the shepherds still, and bonny lasses,
And envy him not stocks, stones, oxen, asses.
[1] Mr Arkwright gives us an interesting bit of information in
connection with Morley and Shakespeare. "Morley lived in St Peter's,
Bishopsgate, between 1596 and 1601, and his name appears in two _Rolls
of Assessments for Subsidies_. In the earlier of these documents is
the name of William Shakespeare, his goods being valued at the same
amount as Morley's. He and Shakespeare both appealed against the
assessment, and it may be supposed some amount of personal intercourse
existed between them."
{29}
IV. THOMAS WEELKES
1575?--1623
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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