Morley, Thomas

1557-1604

One of the foremost composers of songs and madrigals of the Elizabethan era; began his early musical education under William Byrd, and received the degree of Bachelor of Music from Oxford, in 1588. He is supposed to have been organist of St. Giles Church, Cripplegate, from 1588 to 1589, then to have taken a position as organist at St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1592 he was made gentleman of the Chapel Royal and also Gospeller, after having served for a time as Epistler. In 1602 he had resigned his position in Chapel Royal. He died about 1604. He is said to have known Shakespeare and to have written the music for the song, " It was a lover and his lass," in As You Like It, which song appeared in his Aires or Little Short Songs to Sing and Play to the Lute with the   Bass Viole. His most valuable work is his A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Musick, which contains eight compositions, chiefly motets. His other works are The First Booke of Canzonets to two Voices; Canzonets or Little Songs to three Voices; Canzonets, or Little Short Songs to four Voices; Madrigals to Foure Voyces; Madrigals to Five Voyces, Celected out of the best approved Italian Authors; The First Booke of Ballatts to Five Voyces; Canzonets or Little Short Aers to Five and Six Voyces; The Triumphs of Oriana to five and six voyces composed by diuers seuerall aucthors; The First Booke of Consort Lessons made by diuers exquisite Authors for six Instruments; and The Whole Booke of Psalmes with their Wonted Tunes compiled by sundrie Authors.