Robert Carver

Full biography Robert Carver

Robert Carver (c. 1487 – c. 1568) was a Scottish composer of sacred music during the Renaissance period. He was a member of the Canon Regular of St. Augustine at Scone Abbey in Perthshire, Scotland. Though little is known about his life, Carver is considered to be one of Scotland's greatest composers of all time.

Carver's surviving works include five masses, settings of the Latin liturgy, and a selection of motets. His music is characterized by its melismatic style and incorporation of cantus firmus. Carver was also known to have written several masses based on the song 'L'homme arm', which is believed to be the only known cantus firmus used by him.

Carver's compositions were highly regarded and influential, with Venetian composers such as Giovanni Gabrieli taking inspiration from his work. Despite his status as one of Scotland's greatest composers, much of Carver's music has been lost over time, with only a fraction of his work surviving to the present day.

Overall, Robert Carver's contributions to sacred music during the Renaissance period have played an important role in shaping the course of music history, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence composers today.