Thomas Campion

Full biography Thomas Campion

Thomas Campion (1567-1620) was an English composer, poet, physician, and musician. He was born in London and educated at Cambridge, with later studies in law at Gray's Inn. Campion is best known for his work in both music and literature.

As a composer, Campion wrote a large number of solo songs, or "ayres," which were often set to his own poetry. He was one of the most prolific composers of English lute songs , and he is credited with being one of the first composers to use the lute as an accompanying instrument. Campion's music is graceful, melodic, and often highly expressive, and his works were widely popular in his own time.

In addition to his musical work, Campion was also a highly regarded poet and literary theorist. He wrote poetry in a number of different styles, from courtly love verses to more philosophical musings. Many of his poems were set to music by himself and other composers, and his work had a significant influence on the development of both poetry and music in the early seventeenth century.

Campion was also a physician, practicing medicine in London and later in the country. He was respected for his medical expertise, and he published a number of medical treatises and instructional texts.

Overall, Thomas Campion was a highly talented and versatile individual, whose work as a composer, poet, and physician made significant contributions to the artistic and intellectual culture of early modern England.