Robert Fayrfax
Encyclopedia
Robert Fayrfax was an English Renaissance composer, considered the most prominent and influential of the reigns of Kings Henry VII
and Henry VIII of England
.
, Lincolnshire
. He had the patronage of the leading cultural figure of Henry VII's court, the king's mother Lady Margaret Beaufort (1443-1509). He became a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal
by December 6, 1497. He was granted a chaplaincy of the Free Chapel at Snodhill Castle, a post which was given away a year later to Robert Cowper, another Gentleman. He is reported as being organist of St Albans Abbey
responsible for the music
there from 1498 to 1502. Fayrfax gained a Mus.B.
from Cambridge
in 1501, and a Mus.D.
in 1504; he later acquired a D.Mus. from Oxford
(by incorporation) in 1511. He became a member of the Fraternity of St Nicholas in 1502. At the beginning of Henry VIII's reign in 1509 he granted Fayrfax the annuity of a farm in Hampshire and later made him a 'Poor Knight of Windsor' (with a life-time award of twelve pennies a day) on September 10, 1514. He also possessed, and surrendered, two ecclesiastical livings. He received payments for clothes for state occasions and for tutoring choirboys. From 1516, for four consecutive years, he presented the king with collections of his compositions and received financial rewards. In 1520 he led the Chapel Royal in the state visit to France of the Field of the Cloth of Gold
. He died in 1521, possibly at St. Albans where he was buried.
, two Magnificats, thirteen motets, nine part-songs and two instrumental pieces. His masses include the 'exercise' for his doctorate, the mass O quam glorifica. One of his masses, Regali ex progenie, was copied at King's College Cambridge and three other pieces (Salve regina, Regali Magnificat, and the incomplete Ave lumen gratiae) are in the Eton Choirbook
. One of his masses, O bone Jesu, commissioned by Lady Margaret Beaufort, is considered the first Parody mass
.
He has been described as 'the leading figure in the musical establishment of his day' and 'the most admired composer of his generation'. His work was a major influence on later composers, including John Taverner
(1490–1545) and Thomas Tallis
(1505–85).
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
and Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
.
Biography
He was born in Deeping GateDeeping Gate
Deeping Gate is a village and civil parish, lying on the River Welland in Cambridgeshire. Traditionally, the area was part of the Soke of Peterborough, geographically considered a part of Northamptonshire; it now falls within the City of Peterborough unitary authority area...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. He had the patronage of the leading cultural figure of Henry VII's court, the king's mother Lady Margaret Beaufort (1443-1509). 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:...
by December 6, 1497. He was granted a chaplaincy of the Free Chapel at Snodhill Castle, a post which was given away a year later to Robert Cowper, another Gentleman. He is reported as being organist of St Albans Abbey
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
responsible for the music
St Albans Cathedral Choir
St. Albans Cathedral Choir is an English Cathedral Choir based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It is made up of around 25 boy choristers aged 7–14 and 12 adult Lay Clerks...
there from 1498 to 1502. Fayrfax gained a Mus.B.
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
from Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1501, and a Mus.D.
Doctor of Music
The Doctor of Music degree , like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.Mus. is intended for musicians and composers who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music...
in 1504; he later acquired a D.Mus. from 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...
(by incorporation) in 1511. He became a member of the Fraternity of St Nicholas in 1502. At the beginning of Henry VIII's reign in 1509 he granted Fayrfax the annuity of a farm in Hampshire and later made him a 'Poor Knight of Windsor' (with a life-time award of twelve pennies a day) on September 10, 1514. He also possessed, and surrendered, two ecclesiastical livings. He received payments for clothes for state occasions and for tutoring choirboys. From 1516, for four consecutive years, he presented the king with collections of his compositions and received financial rewards. In 1520 he led the Chapel Royal in the state visit to France of the Field of the Cloth of Gold
Field of the Cloth of Gold
The Field of Cloth of Gold is the name given to a place in Balinghem, between Guînes and Ardres, in France, near Calais. It was the site of a meeting that took place from 7 June to 24 June 1520, between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France. The meeting was arranged to increase...
. He died in 1521, possibly at St. Albans where he was buried.
Work and influence
His surviving works are six massesMass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
, two Magnificats, thirteen motets, nine part-songs and two instrumental pieces. His masses include the 'exercise' for his doctorate, the mass O quam glorifica. One of his masses, Regali ex progenie, was copied at King's College Cambridge and three other pieces (Salve regina, Regali Magnificat, and the incomplete Ave lumen gratiae) are in the Eton Choirbook
Eton Choirbook
The Eton Choirbook is a richly illuminated manuscript collection of English sacred music composed during the late fifteenth century. It was one of very few collections of Latin liturgical music to survive the Reformation, and originally contained music by 24 different composers; however, many of...
. One of his masses, O bone Jesu, commissioned by Lady Margaret Beaufort, is considered the first Parody mass
Parody mass
A parody mass is a musical setting of the mass, typically from the 16th century, that uses multiple voices of another pre-existing piece of music, such as a fragment of a motet or a secular chanson, as part of its melodic material. It is distinguished from the two other most prominent types of...
.
He has been described as 'the leading figure in the musical establishment of his day' and 'the most admired composer of his generation'. His work was a major influence on later composers, including John Taverner
John Taverner
John Taverner was an English composer and organist, regarded as the most important English composer of his era.- Career :...
(1490–1545) and Thomas Tallis
Thomas Tallis
Thomas Tallis was an English composer. Tallis flourished as a church musician in 16th century Tudor England. He occupies a primary place in anthologies of English church music, and is considered among the best of England's early composers. He is honoured for his original voice in English...
(1505–85).
External links
Recordings
- The Masses (Missa O Quam Glorifica, Missa Tecum Principium, Missa Albanus, Missa O Bone Jhesu, Missa Regali Ex Progenie). Andrew CarwoodAndrew CarwoodAndrew Carwood is the Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral in London and director of his own group, The Cardinall's Musick.-Biography:He was educated at The John Lyon School, Harrow and was a choral scholar in the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge under Dr George Guest, a lay clerk at...
/David SkinnerDavid Skinner (musicologist)Dr David Skinner is Director of Music at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He co-founded the Cardinall's Musick and Magdala....
: The Cardinall's MusickThe Cardinall's MusickThe Cardinall's Musick is a United Kingdom-based vocal ensemble specialising in music of the 16th and 17th centuries and contemporary music. They have earned themselves an enviable reputation around the world both for the excellence of their voices and the way in which they work together as a...
. ASVASV RecordsASV Records is a London-based record label set up by Harley Usill, founder of Argo Records, Decca producer and former Argo General Manager, Kevin Daly, and producer Jack Boyce, after Argo's parent company Decca was bought by Polygram in 1980. ASV stands for "Academy Sound and Vision"...
's Gaudeamus label: 3 CDs CDGAX353.