Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

February 12, 1567 in London, England

Death

:

March 1, 1620 in London, England

Period

:

Renaissance

 

 

Baroque

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Thomas Campion was a renowned English composer, poet, and physician who lived during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. He was born in London in 1567 to a family of modest means, and his father was a clerk in the Court of Chancery. Despite his family's lack of wealth, Campion received a good education and showed an early aptitude for music and poetry. Campion's musical education began at the age of 11 when he became a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral. He later attended Cambridge University, where he studied music and poetry. After completing his studies, Campion worked as a physician, but he continued to compose music and write poetry throughout his life. Campion's musical output was relatively small, but his works were highly regarded during his lifetime and have continued to be performed and recorded to this day. He is best known for his songs, which were written for voice and lute or keyboard accompaniment. Campion's songs are notable for their simple, elegant melodies and their sensitive settings of English poetry. One of Campion's most famous works is his collection of songs and lute pieces, "A Booke of Ayres," which was published in 1601. The collection includes 21 songs and 12 lute pieces, all of which are set to English poetry. The songs in "A Booke of Ayres" are characterized by their clear, direct melodies and their sensitive treatment of the text. Many of the songs are love songs, but there are also songs on other themes, such as nature and the passing of time. Another notable work by Campion is his masque, "The Lord's Masque," which was performed at the court of King James I in 1613. A masque was a type of entertainment that combined music, dance, and drama, and was popular in the courts of Europe during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. "The Lord's Masque" was written to celebrate the marriage of the Earl of Somerset and Lady Frances Howard, and it featured music by Campion and choreography by Inigo Jones. The masque was a great success and helped to establish Campion's reputation as a composer. In addition to his musical works, Campion was also a prolific poet. He wrote both lyric and narrative poetry, and his works were highly regarded during his lifetime. Campion's poetry is characterized by its clarity, simplicity, and elegance, and it often deals with themes of love, nature, and the passing of time. Some of his most famous poems include "When to her lute Corinna sings," "Follow thy fair sun," and "Rose-cheeked Laura, come." Campion's influence on English music and poetry was significant, and his works were highly regarded by his contemporaries and later generations. His simple, elegant melodies and sensitive settings of English poetry helped to establish the English song tradition, which would later be developed by composers such as Henry Purcell and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Campion's poetry also had a lasting impact on English literature, and his clear, direct style was an important influence on the development of the English lyric tradition. Despite his many accomplishments, Campion's life was not without its difficulties. He struggled with financial problems throughout his life, and he was often forced to rely on the patronage of wealthy individuals to support his musical and literary endeavors. In addition, he suffered from poor health in his later years, and he died in 1620 at the age of 53.

More....