John Windet
Encyclopedia
John Windet was an English printer, notable for his music publications. He was a close business associate of fellow printer John Wolfe
. After 1591, Wolfe ceased printing the lucrative metrical psalter
of Thomas Sternhold
and John Hopkins, and Windet succeeded him in becoming the sole printer of the work for patent
-holder Richard Day
. At some point, Windet succeeded Wolfe as London's City Printer. Wolfe passed on some of his printing ornaments to Windet after he decided to stop printing and focus solely on publishing in 1594. On Wolfe's death in 1601, Windet was appointed administrator of his estate.
In 1604, Windet printed John Dowland
's influential Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares
, a collection of the composer's pavan
s and one of the most important musical works of the era. He also printed all of composer Tobias Hume
's known compositions in two compilations—First Part of Ayres (1605) and Captaine Humes Poeticall Musicke (1607). Windet probably needed to use all his skills as a printer to accommodate the unconventional Hume. The First Part of Ayres contains instructions for what may be the earliest examples of pizzicato
("to be plaide with your fingers...your Bow ever in your hand") and col legno
("Drum this with the back of your Bow"), which were probably eccentricities at the time. In "Lesson for two to play upon one Viole" of First Part of Ayres, one of the players must sit in the lap of the other. Windet's other music publications included printings for Robert Jones
, John Coprario
and Thomas Ford
.
On 25 December 1590, Windet took on William Stansby
as his apprentice. Six years later, Windet gave Stansby his freedom, and on 7 January 1597, Stansby was admitted as a freeman of the Stationers' Company
. Probably lacking in capital, Stansby decided to stay with Windet at his shop at "the Crosse Keys at Powles Wharfe (St Benet Paul's Wharf
)". Windet helped Stansby print his first book, The Policy of the Turkish Empire in April 1597. Windet continued printing until his death in either 1610 or 1611, at which point Stansby took over his Cross Keys shop; on 11 September 1611, Stansby inherited 47 of Windet's copyrights.
John Wolfe (printer)
John Wolfe was an English bookseller and printer. His considerable ambition and his disdain for the printing patent system of Elizabethan England drew the ire of his competitors and authorities in his early career...
. After 1591, Wolfe ceased printing the lucrative metrical psalter
Metrical psalter
A metrical psalter is a kind of Bible translation: a book containing a metrical translation of all or part of the Book of Psalms in vernacular poetry, meant to be sung as hymns in a church. Some metrical psalters include melodies or even harmonizations...
of Thomas Sternhold
Thomas Sternhold
Thomas Sternhold was an English courtier and the principal author of the first English metrical version of the Psalms, originally attached to the Prayer-Book as augmented by John Hopkins.-Life:...
and John Hopkins, and Windet succeeded him in becoming the sole printer of the work for patent
Printing patent
The printing patent or printing privilege was a precursor of modern copyright. It was an exclusive right to print a work or a class work of works....
-holder Richard Day
Richard Day (printer)
Richard Day was an English printer, Church of England clergyman, and the son of printer John Day. He was born in Aldersgate, London, where his father maintained a home and a newly established printing press. He studied at Eton College and enrolled at King's College, Cambridge in 1572, where he was...
. At some point, Windet succeeded Wolfe as London's City Printer. Wolfe passed on some of his printing ornaments to Windet after he decided to stop printing and focus solely on publishing in 1594. On Wolfe's death in 1601, Windet was appointed administrator of his estate.
In 1604, Windet printed John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland was an English Renaissance composer, singer, and lutenist. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep" , "Come again", "Flow my tears", "I saw my Lady weepe" and "In darkness let me dwell", but his instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and has...
's influential Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares
Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares
Lachrimæ or seaven teares figured in seaven passionate pavans, with divers other pavans, galliards and allemands, set forth for the lute, viols, or violons, in five parts is a collection of dance music written for five viols, or violins and lute composed by John Dowland...
, a collection of the composer's pavan
Pavan
Pavan may refer to:* Pavan , a slow processional dance* Pavan , a god of wind in Hindu mythology and father of HanumanPeople with the given name Pavan:* Pavan Duggal...
s and one of the most important musical works of the era. He also printed all of composer Tobias Hume
Tobias Hume
Tobias Hume was a Scottish composer, viol player and soldier.Little is known of his life. Some have suggested that he was born in 1569 because he was admitted to the London Charterhouse in 1629, a pre-requisite to which was being at least 60 years old, though there is no certainty over this...
's known compositions in two compilations—First Part of Ayres (1605) and Captaine Humes Poeticall Musicke (1607). Windet probably needed to use all his skills as a printer to accommodate the unconventional Hume. The First Part of Ayres contains instructions for what may be the earliest examples of pizzicato
Pizzicato
Pizzicato is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a string instrument. The exact technique varies somewhat depending on the type of stringed instrument....
("to be plaide with your fingers...your Bow ever in your hand") and col legno
Col legno
In music for bowed string instruments, col legno, or more precisely col legno battuto , is an instruction to strike the string with the stick of the bow, rather than by drawing the hair of the bow across the strings. This results in a quiet but eerie percussive sound.Col legno is used in the final...
("Drum this with the back of your Bow"), which were probably eccentricities at the time. In "Lesson for two to play upon one Viole" of First Part of Ayres, one of the players must sit in the lap of the other. Windet's other music publications included printings for Robert Jones
Robert Jones (composer)
Robert Jones was an English lutenist and composer, the most prolific of the English lute song composers ....
, John Coprario
John Cooper (composer)
John Cooper , also known as Giovanni Coprario or Coperario, was an English composer, viol player and lutenist....
and Thomas Ford
Thomas Ford (composer)
Thomas Ford was an English composer, lutenist, viol player and poet.He was attached to the court of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of James I, who died in 1612...
.
On 25 December 1590, Windet took on William Stansby
William Stansby
William Stansby was a London printer and publisher of the Jacobean and Caroline eras, working under his own name from 1610. One of the most prolific printers of his time, Stansby is best remembered for publishing the landmark first folio collection of the works of Ben Jonson in 1616.-Life:As for...
as his apprentice. Six years later, Windet gave Stansby his freedom, and on 7 January 1597, Stansby was admitted as a freeman of the Stationers' Company
Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Stationers' Company was founded in 1403; it received a Royal Charter in 1557...
. Probably lacking in capital, Stansby decided to stay with Windet at his shop at "the Crosse Keys at Powles Wharfe (St Benet Paul's Wharf
St Benet Paul's Wharf
The Church of St Benet Paul's Wharf is the Welsh church of the City of London. Since 1555, it has also been the church of the College of Arms, and many officers of arms are buried there. The current church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren.-History:...
)". Windet helped Stansby print his first book, The Policy of the Turkish Empire in April 1597. Windet continued printing until his death in either 1610 or 1611, at which point Stansby took over his Cross Keys shop; on 11 September 1611, Stansby inherited 47 of Windet's copyrights.