Michael Wise
Encyclopedia
Michael Wise was an English
organist and composer. He sang as a child in the choir of the Chapel Royal
and served as a countertenor
in St George's Chapel, Windsor
from 1666 until, in 1668, he was appointed Organist and Choirmaster at Salisbury Cathedral
. In 1676, he became a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal
and in the last year of his life held the post of Master of the Children at St Paul's Cathedral
.
During a violent struggle with the Salisbury
night watch, following a domestic dispute, he sustained a blow to the head, "which broke his skull, of the consequence whereof he died."
As well as Service Settings, his compositions include anthems such as:
(ref. The New Church Anthem Book (OUP, 1992), p. 77
A number of movements within the jubilant "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" were parodied
by George Frederic Handel in the oratorio Messiah
Wise also composed some catch
es and at least one once famous drinking song
, 'Old Chiron'.
He often composed for the unusual combination of a duet of bass and treble voices – for instance, in 'Old Chiron' and 'The Ways of Zion do mourn'
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
organist and composer. He sang as a child in the choir of the Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...
and served as a countertenor
Countertenor
A countertenor is a male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto, mezzo-soprano, or a soprano, usually through use of falsetto, or far more rarely than normal, modal voice. A pre-pubescent male who has this ability is called a treble...
in St George's Chapel, Windsor
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
from 1666 until, in 1668, he was appointed Organist and Choirmaster at Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
. In 1676, he became a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...
and in the last year of his life held the post of Master of the Children at St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
.
During a violent struggle with the Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
night watch, following a domestic dispute, he sustained a blow to the head, "which broke his skull, of the consequence whereof he died."
As well as Service Settings, his compositions include anthems such as:
- "How are the mighty fallen"
- "Awake up my Glory"
- "The ways of Zion do mourn"
- "Blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy"
- "Prepare ye the way of the Lord"
- "Awake, put on thy strength"
(ref. The New Church Anthem Book (OUP, 1992), p. 77
A number of movements within the jubilant "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" were parodied
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
by George Frederic Handel in the oratorio Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
Wise also composed some catch
Catch (music)
In music, a catch or trick canon is a type of round - a musical composition in which two or more voices repeatedly sing the same melody or sometimes slightly different melodies, beginning at different times. In a catch, the lines of lyrics interact so that a word or phrase is produced that does...
es and at least one once famous drinking song
Drinking song
A drinking song is a song sung while drinking alcohol. Most drinking songs are folk songs, and may be varied from person to person and region to region, in both the lyrics and in the music...
, 'Old Chiron'.
He often composed for the unusual combination of a duet of bass and treble voices – for instance, in 'Old Chiron' and 'The Ways of Zion do mourn'
External links
- http://composers-classical-music.com/w/WiseMichael.htm