Composer. He was the first important musician of England's Jacobean period. His consort songs "The Silver Swanne" and "The Cryes of London" (both 1612) are among the finest examples of the English madrigal. The latter makes use of the street cries of merchants and vendors to paint an evocative picture of London in his time. Gibbons wrote some 40 verse anthems for church use, some of which, including "O Clap Your Hands" and "Behold, I Bring You Glad Tidings," are still in the Anglican repertory. He was also a virtuoso keyboardist, and a 17th Century historian called him "the best finger of that age." Gibbons was born in Oxford, and began composing while a boy chorister at King's College, Cambridge. He became organist of the Chapel Royal in 1604, and in 1622 he was appointed organist of Westminster Abbey and awarded an honorary doctorate of music by Oxford University. Gibbons performed at the funeral of King James I in 1625. Later that year he suddenly collapsed and died at Canterbury Cathedral, where he was buried. Most of his music was published after his death; three of his church anthems were included in William Boyce's collection "Cathedral Music" (1778). 20th Century pianist Glenn Gould considered Gibbons his favorite composer, and recorded some of his keyboard works.
Composer. He was the first important musician of England's Jacobean period. His consort songs "The Silver Swanne" and "The Cryes of London" (both 1612) are among the finest examples of the English madrigal. The latter makes use of the street cries of merchants and vendors to paint an evocative picture of London in his time. Gibbons wrote some 40 verse anthems for church use, some of which, including "O Clap Your Hands" and "Behold, I Bring You Glad Tidings," are still in the Anglican repertory. He was also a virtuoso keyboardist, and a 17th Century historian called him "the best finger of that age." Gibbons was born in Oxford, and began composing while a boy chorister at King's College, Cambridge. He became organist of the Chapel Royal in 1604, and in 1622 he was appointed organist of Westminster Abbey and awarded an honorary doctorate of music by Oxford University. Gibbons performed at the funeral of King James I in 1625. Later that year he suddenly collapsed and died at Canterbury Cathedral, where he was buried. Most of his music was published after his death; three of his church anthems were included in William Boyce's collection "Cathedral Music" (1778). 20th Century pianist Glenn Gould considered Gibbons his favorite composer, and recorded some of his keyboard works.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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