John Mundy (composer)
Encyclopedia
John Mundy (c. 1550/1554 – 29 June 1630) was an English composer
, virginalist
and organist
of the Renaissance
period.
after his death in 1585 as organist at St George's Chapel, Windsor
. He received a bachelor of music degree from the University of Oxford
in 1586, and his doctorate in 1624. In 1585 he was appointed joint organist of Westminster Abbey
with Nathaniel Giles
, a post he maintained until his death in 1630.
Mundy was one of the earliest English madrigalists
. He published a volume of Songs and Psalms in 1594, and contributed a madrigal, Lightly she whipped o'er the dales, to The Triumphs of Oriana
(1601), a compilation of madrigals by Thomas Morley
in honour of Queen Elizabeth I. He composed sacred music in English and Latin, including music for the Book of Common Prayer
, and is represented in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
by five pieces, including a magnificent set of variations on the popular song Goe from my window and a whimsical but fine miniature, Munday's Joy. He also wrote a setting of the recusant Chidiock Tichborne
's poem My prime of youth before the latter's gruesome execution in 1586 for his part in the Babington plot
.
Mundy died on 29 June 1630 at Windsor
, succeeded in his post there by his colleague Nathaniel Giles
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, virginalist
Virginalist
Virginalist denotes a composer of the so-called virginalist school, and usually refers to the English keyboard composers of the late Tudor and early Jacobean periods. The term does not appear to have been applied earlier than the 19th century...
and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
of the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
period.
Life and works
The son and pupil of the eminent composer William Mundy, he was organist at Eton, and succeeded John MarbeckJohn Marbeck
John Marbeck, Merbeck or Merbecke was an English theological writer and musician who produced a standard setting of the Anglican liturgy. He is also known today for his setting of the Mass, Missa Per arma justitiae....
after his death in 1585 as organist at St George's Chapel, Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
. He received a bachelor of music degree from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1586, and his doctorate in 1624. In 1585 he was appointed joint organist of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
with Nathaniel Giles
Nathaniel Giles
Nathaniel Giles was an English Renaissance organist and composer. He was the organist for Worcester Cathedral and did Anglican anthems. While Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal he took over Blackfriars Theatre and there he worked with Ben Jonson on a children's company...
, a post he maintained until his death in 1630.
Mundy was one of the earliest English madrigalists
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
. He published a volume of Songs and Psalms in 1594, and contributed a madrigal, Lightly she whipped o'er the dales, to The Triumphs of Oriana
The Triumphs of Oriana
The Triumphs of Oriana is a book of English madrigals, compiled and published in 1601 by Thomas Morley, which first edition has 25 pieces by 23 composers . It was said to have been made in the honour of Queen Elizabeth I...
(1601), a compilation of madrigals by Thomas Morley
Thomas Morley
Thomas Morley was an English composer, theorist, editor and organist of the Renaissance, and the foremost member of the English Madrigal School. He was the most famous composer of secular music in Elizabethan England and an organist at St Paul's Cathedral...
in honour of Queen Elizabeth I. He composed sacred music in English and Latin, including music for the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
, and is represented in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book is a primary source of keyboard music from the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean periods in England, i.e., the late Renaissance and very early Baroque. It takes its name from Viscount Fitzwilliam who bequeathed this manuscript collection to Cambridge University in 1816...
by five pieces, including a magnificent set of variations on the popular song Goe from my window and a whimsical but fine miniature, Munday's Joy. He also wrote a setting of the recusant Chidiock Tichborne
Chidiock Tichborne
Chidiock Tichborne is remembered as an English conspirator and poet.-Biography:He was born in Southampton sometime after 24 August 1562 to Roman Catholic parents, Peter Tichborne and his wife Elizabeth . His birth date has been given as circa 1558 in many sources, though unverified, and thus...
's poem My prime of youth before the latter's gruesome execution in 1586 for his part in the Babington plot
Babington Plot
The Babington Plot was a Catholic plot in 1586 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth, a Protestant, and put Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic, on the English throne. It led to the execution of Mary. The long-term goal was an invasion by the Spanish forces of King Philip II and the Catholic league in...
.
Mundy died on 29 June 1630 at Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, succeeded in his post there by his colleague Nathaniel Giles
Nathaniel Giles
Nathaniel Giles was an English Renaissance organist and composer. He was the organist for Worcester Cathedral and did Anglican anthems. While Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal he took over Blackfriars Theatre and there he worked with Ben Jonson on a children's company...
.