Humfrey, Pelham

1647-1674

English musician and composer, who, when a child, was one of the first set of children in the Chapel Royal after the Restoration. At seventeen years of age he composed the words of five anthems contained in Clifford's Divine Services and Anthems. He was also associated with Blow and Turner in the composition of the anthem, I Will Always Give Thanks. In the same year Charles II. sent him abroad to study music in France and Italy. Having studied under Lully in Paris, he afterwards introduced his methods in England. In 1667 he was appointed a gentleman of the Chapel Royal and in 1672 succeeded Captain Cooke as master of the children. Humfrey died at Windsor when only twenty-seven years old. Boyce considers that he was the first of our ecclesiastical composers who had the least idea of musical pathos in the expression of words. His compositions are chiefly sacred and include a large number of anthems, services and songs. He also composed some good secular songs, some of which are to be found in Sir John Hawkins' History of Music. Among his songs are two odes composed for the King's birthday.