Short bio John Wilbye
Birthday:
1574 in Diss, Norfolk, England
Died:
1638 in Colchester, Essex, England
Genre:
Classical
Period:
Renaissance
Full biography John Wilbye
John Wilbye was an English madrigal composer who lived from 1574 to 1638. He is considered one of the finest madrigalists of his time , and his works are still performed today. He is best known for his intricate and expressive compositions, which incorporate complex polyphony, dramatic word painting, and chromatic harmony.
Wilbye's work was heavily influenced by the madrigal style of the Italian composers such as Alfonso Ferrabosco , as well as his contemporary English composers such as Thomas Morley and Thomas Weelkes. Wilbye's style was unique in his use of chromatic harmony, which created a sense of tension and dissonance that was uncommon in English madrigals.
Some of Wilbye's most famous works include "Flora Gave Me Fairest Flowers," "Sweet Honey-Sucking Bees," and "Weep , Weep Mine Eyes." His works were often characterized by their emotional depth and expressive power, as well as their intricate counterpoint and complex harmonies.
Despite his success as a composer, little is known about Wilbye's personal life. He appeared to have lived in the service of various aristocratic families, and little information about his personal relationships or opinions survives to this day. Nevertheless, his legacy as one of England's finest composers of madrigals remains secure, and his works continue to be widely performed and admired by musicians and music lovers alike.
Compositions featuring John Wilbye
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ah, Cannot Sighs, Nor Tears, Nor Aught Else Move Thee, madrigal | 3:35 min | Vocal Music | 1609 |
| 2 | Sweet Hony Sucking Bees, madrigal | 4:19 min | Vocal Music | 1609 |
| 3 | Stay, Corydon, Thou Swain, madrigal | 2:33 min | Chamber Music | 1609 |
| 4 | So Light Is Love, madrigal | 1:50 min | Vocal Music | 1609 |
| 5 | Oft I have vowed how dearly I did love thee, madrigal (No. 20, The Second Set of Madrigals) | 3:41 min | Vocal Music | 1609 |
| 6 | O Wretched Man, madrigal | 2:50 min | Vocal Music | 1609 |
| 7 | Weep, Weep, Mine Eyes, My Heart Can Take No Rest, madrigal | 4:10 min | Vocal Music | 1609 |
| 8 | Draw On, Sweet Night, Best Friend unto Those Cares, madrigal | 4:55 min | Vocal Music | 1609 |
| 9 | Down in a Valley, madrigal for 5 voices | 3:54 min | Vocal Music | 1609 |
| 10 | Adieu, sweet Amaryllis, madrigal (No. 12, The First Set of English Madrigals) | 2:57 min | Vocal Music | 1609 |
| 11 | As Matchlesse Beauty, madrigal | 2:50 min | Vocal Music | 1609 |
| 12 | Cruell, Behold My Heavie Ending, madrigal | 2:40 min | Vocal Music | 1598 |
| 13 | Flora gave me fairest flowers, madrigal (No. 22, The First Set of English Madrigals) | 1:30 min | Vocal Music | 1598 |
| 14 | I Fall, I Fall, O Stay Me | 1:13 min | Choral | 1598 |
| 15 | Sweet Love, if thou wilt gaine a Monarches glory, for 6 voices | 2:52 min | Choral | 1598 |
| 16 | Thus Saith My Cloris Bright, madrigal | 1:21 min | Vocal Music | 1598 |
| 17 | Lady, when I behold, madrigal (No. 10, The First Set of English Madrigals) | 2:56 min | Vocal Music | 1598 |
| 18 | Lady, Your Words Do Spite Me, madrigal | 1:52 min | Vocal Music | 1598 |
| 19 | Ye That Do Live in Pleasures Plenty, madrigal | 2:36 min | Choral | - |
| 20 | When shall my wretched life (First Set of English Madrigals, No. 25) | 2:44 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 21 | Ye Restless Thoughts, madrigal for 3 voices (First Set of English Madrigals, No. 6) | 1:47 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 22 | Why dost thou shoot? (First Set of English Madrigals, No. 30) | 1:26 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 23 | The Frogge, arrangement for harpsichord (after Dowland) | 1:59 min | Keyboard | - |
| 24 | The lady Oriana, madrigal | 2:31 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 25 | There Is a Jewel, madrigal for 3 voices | 2:36 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 26 | There, Where I Saw Her Lovely Beauty Painted, madrigal for 5 voices (Second Set of Madrigales, No. 22) | 3:38 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 27 | Thou art but young, thou saye'st (First Set of English Madrigals, No. 29) | 1:47 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 28 | Thus love commands that I in vain complain me, madrigal (No. 17, The First Set of English Madrigals) | 2:24 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 29 | Weep, O Mine Eyes, madrigal for 3 voices (First Set of English Madrigals, No. 4) | 2:00 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 30 | Where Most My Thoughts, madrigal for 6 voices (Second Set of English Madrigals, No. 26) | 5:59 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 31 | What Shall I Doe, madrigal | 2:44 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 32 | Softly, O softly drop my eyes (Second Set of English Madrigals, No. 33) | 3:11 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 33 | Of joys and pleasing pains, madrigal for 6 voices (First Set of English Madrigals, No. 26) | 3:26 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 34 | O What Shall I Do?, madrigal for 3 voices (Second Set of Madrigales, No. 6) | 2:44 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 35 | Ne Reminiscaris | 2:52 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 36 | My throat is sore (First Set of English Madrigals, No. 27) | 2:18 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 37 | Madrigals | Choral | - | |
| 38 | Love Not Me for Comely Grace, madrigal for 4 voices (Second Set of Madrigales, No. 12) | 2:24 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 39 | Lady, when I behold (First Set of English Madrigals, No. 24) | 2:34 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 40 | I Love, alas! Yet am not Loved, madrigal for 4 voices (Second Set of Madrigales, No. 14) | 2:22 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 41 | I always beg, yet never am relieved, madrigal (No. 16, The First Set of English Madrigals) | 2:22 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 42 | Happy, O Happy He, Who Not Affecting, madrigal | 2:58 min | Choral | - |
| 43 | Die hapless man (First Set of English Madrigals, No. 13) | 1:58 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 44 | Come shepherd, swains, that wont to hear me sing, madrigal (No. 1, The Second Set of Madrigals) | 3:00 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 45 | As Fair as Morn, as Fresh as May, madrigal | 2:06 min | Choral | - |
| 46 | All Pleasure Is of This Condition, madrigal for 5 voices (Second Set of Madrigales, No. 18) | 2:32 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 47 | Alas! what a wretched life (First Set of English Madrigals, No. 19) | 1:46 min | Vocal Music | - |
Albums featuring John Wilbye
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
The Consort Of Musicke, Anthony Rooley ; Gibbons, Wilbye, Morley – The Silver Swan (English Madrigals)(2×CD, Compilation, Remastered) | 2005 | Decca |
| 2 |  |
John Dowland, Orlando Gibbons, John Wilbye, Thomas Morley - The Consort Of Musicke, Anthony Rooley – The World Of English Ayres And Madrigals(CD, Compilation) | 2001 | Decca |
| 3 |  |
The Consort Of Musicke, Anthony Rooley ; Gibbons, Wilbye, Morley – The Silver Swan (English Madrigals) | 1998 | Decca |
| 4 |  |
John Wilbye, The Consort Of Musicke – Madrigals | 1982 | L'Oiseau-Lyre |
| 5 |  |
Accademia Monteverdiana, Denis Stevens, Claudio Monteverdi, Andrea Gabrieli, Giovanni Gabrieli, Ludwig van Beethoven, John Wilbye, Thomas Morley – A Twentieth Anniversary Tribute(LP, Stereo) | 1981 | His Master's Voice |
| 6 |  |
Wilbye, Tomkins & Gibbons, The Wilbye Consort Directed By Peter Pears – Madrigals By Wilbye, Tomkins & Gibbons(LP, Stereo) | 1974 | Decca |
| 7 |  |
John Wilbye, The Wilbye Consort, Peter Pears – Madrigals | 1967 | Decca |
| 8 |  |
Deller Consort, Alfred Deller, John Wilbye, Thomas Morley – The English Madrigal School: Madrigals Of John Wilbye And Thomas Morley | 1964 | Vanguard |
| 9 |  |
John Wilbye, Thomas Morley, Deller Consort, Alfred Deller – Madrigals Of Thomas Morley And John Wilbye | 1964 | Vanguard |
| 10 |  |
John Wilbye, The Deller Consort – Madrigals | 1958 | Vanguard |
| 11 |  |
The Tallis Scholars Directed By Peter Phillips (2) - Ramsey • Tomkins • Vauter • Weelkes • Wilbye • Bennet • Farnaby • Gibbons • Morley – English Madrigals(LP, Stereo) | - | Angel Eminence |
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