Thomas Ford (composer)
Encyclopedia
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. He was musician to the household of Prince Henry from 1610 to 1612, musician to the household of Prince Charles 1617–1625, and musician to Charles I
from 1626 to 1642, the outbreak of the English Civil War
. He was buried in St. Margaret's, Westminster
.
Ford wrote anthems, for three to six voices; four sacred canons; 35 partsongs; six fantasia
s for five parts; and a few other pieces for viols.
Most likely his most important collection was the Musicke of Sundrie Kindes (London, 1607), which was in two parts. The first book included lute ayre
s, described as "Aries for 4 voices to the Lute, Orphorion, or Basse-viol, with a Dialogue for two Voices..."; the second part contained dances such as "Pavens, Galiards, Almaines, Toies, Jigges, Thumpes, and such like..." scored for combinations of viols. Many of the ayres are given in two versions: one for voice or voices and lute, and another for four equal voices. An unusual feature of his music for viol is the occasional use of a sound effect: a heavy pizzicato
"thump...with the first and second finger of the left hand according to the direction of the pricks."
Some of his sacred music, found in two collections from 1614 and 1620, is unusual in including a basso continuo, a plainly Baroque
feature which, though common on the continent by then, only made a belated appearance in England.
Together with John Dowland
, Ford is a chief representative of the school which preceded Henry Lawes
.
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...
, lutenist, 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...
player and poet.
He was attached to the court of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
Henry Frederick Stuart, Prince of Wales was the elder son of King James I & VI and Anne of Denmark. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and Frederick II of Denmark. Prince Henry was widely seen as a bright and promising heir to his father's throne...
, son of James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, who died in 1612. He was musician to the household of Prince Henry from 1610 to 1612, musician to the household of Prince Charles 1617–1625, and musician to 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...
from 1626 to 1642, the outbreak of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. He was buried in St. Margaret's, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
.
Ford wrote anthems, for three to six voices; four sacred canons; 35 partsongs; six fantasia
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 ....
s for five parts; and a few other pieces for viols.
Most likely his most important collection was the Musicke of Sundrie Kindes (London, 1607), which was in two parts. The first book included lute ayre
Air (music)
Air , a variant of the musical song form, is the name of various song-like vocal or instrumental compositions.-English lute ayres:...
s, described as "Aries for 4 voices to the Lute, Orphorion, or Basse-viol, with a Dialogue for two Voices..."; the second part contained dances such as "Pavens, Galiards, Almaines, Toies, Jigges, Thumpes, and such like..." scored for combinations of viols. Many of the ayres are given in two versions: one for voice or voices and lute, and another for four equal voices. An unusual feature of his music for viol is the occasional use of a sound effect: a heavy 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....
"thump...with the first and second finger of the left hand according to the direction of the pricks."
Some of his sacred music, found in two collections from 1614 and 1620, is unusual in including a basso continuo, a plainly Baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
feature which, though common on the continent by then, only made a belated appearance in England.
Together with 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...
, Ford is a chief representative of the school which preceded Henry Lawes
Henry Lawes
Henry Lawes was an English musician and composer.He was born at Dinton in Wiltshire, and received his musical education from John Cooper, better known under his Italian pseudonym Giovanni Coperario, a famous composer of the day...
.
External links
- The poem that appeared anonymously and without a title in a manuscript found in the library of Christchurch, Oxford, and which starts 'Yet if his MajestyMajestyMajesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin maiestas, meaning "greatness".- Origin :Originally, during the Roman republic, the word maiestas was the legal term for the supreme status and dignity of the state, to be respected above everything else...
, our sovereign lord . . ', has been attributed to Ford.