Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

January 5, 1596 in Dinton, Wiltshire, England

Death

:

October 21, 1662 in London, England

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Henry Lawes was a prominent English composer and musician of the 17th century. He was born in Dinton, Wiltshire, England in 1595, the son of Thomas Lawes, a musician and composer himself. Henry Lawes grew up in a musical family and received his early musical education from his father. At the age of 18, Lawes moved to London to pursue a career in music. He quickly established himself as a talented musician and composer, and became a member of the Chapel Royal in 1626. He also became a member of the King's Musick, a group of musicians who performed for the royal court. Lawes was known for his skill as a composer of vocal music, particularly for his settings of poetry. He was a close friend of the poet John Milton, and set many of his poems to music. One of his most famous works is his setting of Milton's poem "L'Allegro," which is still performed today. In addition to his vocal music, Lawes also composed instrumental music, including pieces for the lute and viol. He was a skilled performer on both instruments, and his music for the lute in particular was highly regarded. One of the highlights of Lawes' career was his appointment as the music master to the court of Charles I in 1635. He held this position until the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, when he was forced to flee London and seek refuge in Oxford. During his time in Oxford, Lawes continued to compose music and perform for the royalist cause. He wrote several pieces of music for the Oxford Act, a ceremony held at the University of Oxford to commemorate the king's visit in 1644. After the end of the Civil War, Lawes returned to London and resumed his career as a musician and composer. He continued to write music for the court, and also composed music for the theater. He wrote the music for several plays by John Fletcher and Philip Massinger, including "The False One" and "The Virgin Martyr." Lawes' music was highly regarded during his lifetime, and he was considered one of the leading composers of his time. His influence can be seen in the work of later composers, including Henry Purcell. Despite his success as a composer, Lawes' personal life was marked by tragedy. He married a woman named Rebecca, but she died in childbirth in 1635. Lawes himself died in 1662, at the age of 67. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Margaret's, Westminster. Today, Henry Lawes is remembered as one of the most important composers of the English Baroque period. His music is still performed and recorded, and his influence can be seen in the work of later composers. His legacy as a composer and musician continues to be celebrated and appreciated by music lovers around the world.

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