Composer. An important English representative of early Renaissance music. His few surviving compositions are surprisingly progressive for their time, particularly his idiomatic keyboard writing. The famous virginal piece "My Lady Careys Dompe" is attributed to him on stylistic grounds, and his "Hornpipe" is also well known. In addition he was a pioneer of the theme-and-variations technique. Details of Aston's life are scarce. He attended Oxford University and was a noted contemporary of composer John Taverner, with whom he competed (unsuccessfully) for the post of Choirmaster at Oxford's Cardinal College in 1525. He then held a similar position at St. Mary Newarke Hospital and College in Leicester from 1526 until he was pensioned off in 1548. Apart from his keyboard music, four large-scale sacred works survive complete: the "Missa Te Deum", "Missa Videte manus meas", "Gaude mater matris", and "Te Deum laudamus". For many years scholars confused him with another Hugh Aston, Archdeacon of York, who died in 1522.
Composer. An important English representative of early Renaissance music. His few surviving compositions are surprisingly progressive for their time, particularly his idiomatic keyboard writing. The famous virginal piece "My Lady Careys Dompe" is attributed to him on stylistic grounds, and his "Hornpipe" is also well known. In addition he was a pioneer of the theme-and-variations technique. Details of Aston's life are scarce. He attended Oxford University and was a noted contemporary of composer John Taverner, with whom he competed (unsuccessfully) for the post of Choirmaster at Oxford's Cardinal College in 1525. He then held a similar position at St. Mary Newarke Hospital and College in Leicester from 1526 until he was pensioned off in 1548. Apart from his keyboard music, four large-scale sacred works survive complete: the "Missa Te Deum", "Missa Videte manus meas", "Gaude mater matris", and "Te Deum laudamus". For many years scholars confused him with another Hugh Aston, Archdeacon of York, who died in 1522.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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