Richard Mico
Encyclopedia
Richard Mico was an English composer. He was born in Taunton
, Somerset, the eldest of three
sons of Walter Mico. The family, originally called "Micault", had immigrated to England as French Huguenot
s several generations earlier. The Micos were a merchant family: the composer's cousin was Sir Samuel Mico (1610–65), who settled in London by the 1630s, made his fortune in overseas trade to become an alderman
of London and Master of the Mercers’ Company
, and was knighted after the Restoration.
Mico was appointed resident musician at Thorndon Hall
, Essex, in 1608. There, he worked for Sir William Petre
(William Byrd
's former patron) as a music teacher for the family's children, as well as composing for the household. Surviving documents record the handing over of the household instruments to Mico in 1608, including five viol
s (with bows), a lute
, organ
and virginals
. While working for Petre, Mico adopted his employer's faith, converting to Roman Catholicism.
In 1630 he was appointed as organist to Queen Henrietta Maria
, wife of Charles I
, and held this post until the queen's flight to Holland in 1642.
He was buried at St Paul's, Covent Garden
, on 10 April 1661.
None of Mico's consort works were published during his lifetime, but Christopher Simpson
, writing six years after his death, named him as one of the best composers of fantasias
.
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, Somerset, the eldest of three
sons of Walter Mico. The family, originally called "Micault", had immigrated to England as French Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
s several generations earlier. The Micos were a merchant family: the composer's cousin was Sir Samuel Mico (1610–65), who settled in London by the 1630s, made his fortune in overseas trade to become an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of London and Master of the Mercers’ Company
Worshipful Company of Mercers
The Worshipful Company of Mercers is the premier Livery Company of the City of London and ranks first in order of precedence. It is the first of the so-called "Great Twelve City Livery Companies". It was incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1394...
, and was knighted after the Restoration.
Mico was appointed resident musician at Thorndon Hall
Thorndon Hall
Thorndon Hall is a Georgian Palladian country house within Thorndon Park, Ingrave, Essex, England, approximately two miles south of Brentwood and from central London....
, Essex, in 1608. There, he worked for Sir William Petre
William Petre, 2nd Baron Petre
William Petre, 2nd Baron Petre was educated at Oxford, was elected MP for Essex, knighted in 1603 and acceded to the Barony in 1613...
(William Byrd
William Byrd
William Byrd was an English composer of the Renaissance. He wrote in many of the forms current in England at the time, including various types of sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard and consort music.-Provenance:Knowledge of Byrd's biography expanded in the late 20th century, thanks largely...
's former patron) as a music teacher for the family's children, as well as composing for the household. Surviving documents record the handing over of the household instruments to Mico in 1608, including five viol
Viol
The viol is any one of a family of bowed, fretted and stringed musical instruments developed in the mid-late 15th century and used primarily in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The family is related to and descends primarily from the Renaissance vihuela, a plucked instrument that preceded the...
s (with bows), a lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
, organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and virginals
Virginals
The virginals or virginal is a keyboard instrument of the harpsichord family...
. While working for Petre, Mico adopted his employer's faith, converting to Roman Catholicism.
In 1630 he was appointed as organist to Queen Henrietta Maria
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
, wife of Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, and held this post until the queen's flight to Holland in 1642.
He was buried at St Paul's, Covent Garden
St Paul's, Covent Garden
St Paul's Church, also commonly known as the Actors' Church, is a church designed by Inigo Jones as part of a commission by Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford in 1631 to create "houses and buildings fitt for the habitacons of Gentlemen and men of ability" in Covent Garden, London, England.As well...
, on 10 April 1661.
None of Mico's consort works were published during his lifetime, but Christopher Simpson
Christopher Simpson
Christopher Simpson was an English musician and composer, particularly associated with music for the viola da gamba.-Life:Simpson was born between 1602 and 1606, probably at Egton, Yorkshire...
, writing six years after his death, named him as one of the best composers of fantasias
Fantasia (music)
The fantasia is a musical composition with its roots in the art of improvisation. Because of this, it seldom approximates the textbook rules of any strict musical form ....
.
Works
- Manuscript Mus. 517-20 in the library of Christchurch, Oxford is a set of four partbooks containing instrumental works by Richard Mico (as well as those by Alfonso Ferrabosco, John WardJohn WardJohn Ward may refer to:*John Ward , English composer*John Ward , English Gresham Professor of Rhetoric*John Ward , Lord Mayor of London...
and John JenkinsJohn JenkinsJohn Jenkins may refer to:*John Jenkins , Maine state senator, mayor and candidate for Governor of Maine*John Jenkins , English composer*John Jenkins , colonial governor of North Carolina...
). The copyist is unidentified, English, 1630-50. This collection includes 17 of Mico's fantasiaFantasia (music)The fantasia is a musical composition with its roots in the art of improvisation. Because of this, it seldom approximates the textbook rules of any strict musical form ....
s for four viols. - All of Mico's known surviving works have been published in the Musica BritannicaMusica BritannicaMusica Britannica was founded in 1951 as an authoritative national collection of British music. It is designed to stand alongside existing library editions, and to explore the vast heritage of material still largely untouched by them, thus making available a representative survey of the British...
series: Musica Britannica, Volume 65; Richard Mico: Consort Music, 1994, edited by Andrew Hanley. Published by , Stainer & Bell Ltd, London. ISBN-13: 9780852498224.:- Four fantasies à2
- Seven fantasies à3 with organ
- 17 fantasies à4
- Four fantasies à5
- Four pavans à4
- Three pavans à5
- An In Nomine à5
- Latral à5
Recordings
- PhantasmPhantasm (music group)Phantasm is a viol consort based in England. It was founded in 1994 by Laurence Dreyfus.They have recorded on the Channel Classics Records, GMN, Simax, and Avie Records labels.-Members:*Laurence Dreyfus, treble viol and director...
: Still Music of the Spheres; Consorts by William ByrdWilliam ByrdWilliam Byrd was an English composer of the Renaissance. He wrote in many of the forms current in England at the time, including various types of sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard and consort music.-Provenance:Knowledge of Byrd's biography expanded in the late 20th century, thanks largely...
and Richard Mico, Simax, PSC1143 - Amsterdam Loeki Stardust QuartetAmsterdam Loeki Stardust QuartetThe Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet is a professional Dutch recorder quartet which was founded in 1978 by four students of the Sweelinck Conservatory Amsterdam; Daniël Brüggen, Bertho Driever, Paul Leenhouts and Karel van Steenhoven...
: Fantazia, Channel Classics RecordsChannel Classics RecordsChannel Classics Records is a record label from the Netherlands, specializing in classical music. The managing director and producer is C. Jared Sacks, who grew up in Boston. Sacks was schooled as a professional horn player at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam...
CCS 16998 includes Mico's Pavan No.1 in C minor and Pavan No. 4 in C major