Laniere, Nicholas

1588-1666

Born in London, where he became attached to the household of Henry, Prince of Wales. With Coperario and others he composed and performed in a masque given at Whitehall, 1614. He also composed the music for Ben Jonson's masque, Lovers Made Men, which contains the first use of the recitative style in England. Laniere painted the scenery and also sang in the play. In 1625 he was sent to Italy by Charles I. to buy pictures for the Royal collection, among which are Mantegna's Triumph of Caesar, now at Hampton Court and Correggio's Mercury Instructing Cupid, which is in the National Gallery. In 1626 he was appointed Master of the King's Musick and later keeper of the king's miniatures. He set to music  Herrick's poem on the birth of Prince Charles. In 1636 he was made first Marshal of a corporation whose charter was granted by the King to him and others, making them the Marshal, Wardens, and Cominalty of the Arte and Science of Musicke in Westminster. With the revolution and death of Charles, Laniere lost all his appointments and left for the Continent, where, in 1655 he composed music for a ball given at The Hague. However, at the Restoration he regained all he had lost. He died in London. Some of his songs and dialogues are in the British Museum; also a cantata, Hero and Leander, in manuscript. Other music in manuscript is in the Music School and Christ Church Library, Oxford.