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Thomas Morley

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Short bio Thomas Morley

Birthday: 1557 in Norwich, England
Died: 1602 in London, England
Genre: Classical
Period: Baroque, Renaissance

Full biography Thomas Morley

photo Thomas Morley

Thomas Morley (1557-1602) was an English Renaissance composer, organist, singer, and theorist, considered one of the great English madrigalists. He was born in Norwich and later moved to London, where he held a number of church musical appointments. Morley wrote instrumental music as well as madrigals , which are secular vocal pieces originating in Italy.

Morley is known for his contributions to the English madrigal, which was a popular form of music in the Elizabethan era. He wrote some of the most famous madrigals of the time, including "April is in my mistress' face" and "Sing we and chant it". He was also known for his collaborations with William Shakespeare, for whom he wrote the music set to the song "It was a Lover and his Lass" in Shakespeare's play "As You Like It".

Morley's compositions were often characterized by their lively, bouncy rhythms and playful melodies. His style was influenced by the Italian madrigal, which he encountered during his travels to Italy as a young man. He was also known for his theoretical treatises on music, including "A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke."

Overall, Thomas Morley was a significant figure in the development of English Renaissance music, particularly in the realm of madrigals. His contributions to the field helped to establish the English madrigal as a distinctive form, and his lively, playful style continues to be celebrated today.

Compositions featuring Thomas Morley

# Name Duration Genre Year
1 Il Grillo, fantasia for instrumental consort 1:40 min Chamber Music 1619
2 Il lamento, fantasia for instrumental consort 2:33 min Chamber Music 1619
3 La caccia, fantasia for instrumental consort 1:29 min Chamber Music 1619
4 La Girondola, fantasia for instrumental consort 1:48 min Chamber Music 1619
5 La rondinella, fantasia for instrumental consort 1:36 min Chamber Music 1619
6 La sampogna, fantasia for instrumental consort 2:21 min Chamber Music 1619
7 La Torello, fantasia for instrumental consort 2:05 min Chamber Music 1619
8 Pavin and galliard, for keyboard in F major (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, Nos. 169 & 170) 8:48 min Keyboard 1609
9 Southerne's Pavan and Galliard (arr. by P. Rosseter from "Pavan and galliard"), for mixed consort 4:35 min Chamber Music 1609
10 Arise, awake, you silly shepherds sleeping, madrigal for 5 voices 2:10 min Choral 1601
11 Hard by a cristall fountaine, madrigal for 6 voices 3:42 min Choral 1601
12 A painted tale, song for voice with lute & bass viol 2:34 min Vocal Music 1600
13 Absence, hear thou my protestation, song for voice with lute & bass viol 4:19 min Vocal Music 1600
14 Can I forget what reason's force, song for voice with lute & bass viol 3:06 min Vocal Music 1600
15 Come sorrow, come, song for voice with lute & bass viol 6:20 min Vocal Music 1600
16 Faire in a morne, song for voice with lute & bass viol 3:30 min Vocal Music 1600
17 I saw my ladye weeping, song for voice with lute & bass viol 3:24 min Vocal Music 1600
18 It was a lover and his lass, song for voice with lute & bass viol 3:00 min Vocal Music 1600
19 Love winged my hopes, song for voice with lute & bass viol 2:54 min Vocal Music 1600
20 Mistresse mine, well may you fare (O Mistress Mine), song for voice with lute & bass viol 1:56 min Vocal Music 1600
21 Pavin and galliard, for lute (lost) 6:19 min Chamber Music 1600
22 Sleepe slumbring eyes, song for voice with lute & bass viol 5:33 min Vocal Music 1600
23 Thirsis and Milla, song in 2 sections for voice with lute & bass viol 2:54 min Vocal Music 1600
24 What if my mistresse now, song for voice with lute & bass viol 1:46 min Vocal Music 1600
25 Who is it that this darke night, song for voice with lute & bass viol 5:19 min Vocal Music 1600
26 Will ye buy a fine dogge?, song for voice with lute & bass viol 1:16 min Vocal Music 1600
27 With my love my life was nestled, song for voice with lute & bass viol 2:17 min Vocal Music 1600
28 Joyne Hands, for consort of instruments (from "The First Booke of Consort Lessons") 1:39 min Chamber Music 1599
29 La Coranta (from "The First Booke of Consort Lessons"), for consort of instruments 1:34 min Chamber Music 1599
30 Lavolta, for consort of instruments (from "The First Booke of Consort Lessons") 2:26 min Chamber Music 1599
31 Michill's Galliard, for consort of instruments (from "The First Booke of Consort Lessons") 2:16 min Chamber Music 1599
32 The First Booke of Consort Lessons (1599) Chamber Music 1599
33 A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke, musical treatise with diverse music Miscellaneous (Classical) 1597
34 Agnus Dei, motet for 4 voices 2:42 min Choral 1597
35 Air, for 3 viols (from "A Plaine and Easie Introduction...") 1:30 min Chamber Music 1597
36 Christes Cross (from "A Plaine and Easie Introduction..."), for consort of instruments 5:15 min Chamber Music 1597
37 Cruell, wilt thou persever?, madrigal for 5 voices 2:12 min Choral 1597
38 Damon and Phyllis squared, madrigal for 5 voices 1:31 min Choral 1597
39 Fly love, that art so sprightly, madrigal for 5 voices 1:53 min Choral 1597
40 Good love, then flie thou toe her, madrigal for 6 voices 3:00 min Choral 1597
41 Harke; Alleluia cheerely, madrigal for 6 voices 2:02 min Choral 1597
42 I follow, loe, the footing, madrigal for 5 voices 2:19 min Choral 1597
43 Lo, where with flowery head, madrigal for 5 voices 1:44 min Choral 1597
44 O griefe, even on the bud, madrigal for 5 voices 2:01 min Choral 1597
45 O sleep, fond fancy, madrigal for 3 voices 2:00 min Choral 1597
46 Our bonny boots could toote it, madrigal for 5 voices 1:09 min Choral 1597
47 Sayd I that Amarillis, madrigal for 5 voices 1:25 min Choral 1597
48 Stay, hart, runneth not so fast, madrigal for 6 voices 2:33 min Choral 1597
49 You blacke bright starres, madrigal for 5 voices 1:33 min Choral 1597
50 About the may-pole new, madrigal for 5 voices 2:21 min Choral 1595
51 Canzonets to 2 Voices (1595) Vocal Music 1595
52 Flora, wilt thou torment mee?, madrigal for 2 voices 1:47 min Choral 1595
53 Fyer, fyer, madrigal for 5 voices 2:52 min Choral 1595
54 Fyre and lightning from heaven, madrigal for 2 voices 1:10 min Choral 1595
55 Goe yee, my canzonets, madrigal for 2 voices 1:32 min Choral 1595
56 I goe before, my darling, madrigal for 2 voices 1:27 min Choral 1595
57 I love, alas, I love thee, madrigal for 5 voices 1:33 min Choral 1595
58 I should for griefe and anguish, madrigal for 2 voices 2:34 min Choral 1595
59 In nets of goulden wyers, madrigals for 2 voices 2:54 min Choral 1595
60 Leave now mine eyes lamenting, madrigal for 2 voices 3:10 min Choral 1595
61 Leave, alas, this tormenting, madrigal for 5 voices 3:35 min Choral 1595
62 Loe heere another love, madrigal for 2 voices 1:51 min Choral 1595
63 Miraculous love's wounding, madrigal for 2 voices 2:52 min Choral 1595
64 My bonny lasse she smyleth, madrigal for 5 voices 2:04 min Choral 1595
65 My lovely wanton jewell, madrigal for 5 voices 2:26 min Choral 1595
66 No, no, Nigella, madrigal for 5 voices 3:22 min Choral 1595
67 Now is the month of maying, madrigal for 5 voices 2:03 min Choral 1595
68 O thou that are so cruel, madrigal for 2 voices 2:17 min Choral 1595
69 Phillis, I faine wold die now, madrigal for 7 voices 4:57 min Choral 1595
70 Shoot, false love, I care not, madrigal for 5 voices 2:36 min Choral 1595
71 Sing wee and chaunt it, madrigal for 5 voices 2:01 min Choral 1595
72 Singing alone satte my sweet Amarillis, madrigal for 5 voices 2:54 min Choral 1595
73 Sweet nimphe, come to thy lover, madrigal for 2 voices 1:43 min Choral 1595
74 Those dainty daffadillies, madrigal for 5 voices 2:51 min Choral 1595
75 When, loe, by breake of morning, madrigal for 2 voices 1:53 min Choral 1595
76 Aprill is in my mistris face, madrigal for 4 voices 1:29 min Choral 1594
77 Besides a fountain, madrigal for 4 voices 2:05 min Choral 1594
78 Come lovers, follow me, madrigal for 4 voices 1:58 min Choral 1594
79 Dye now, my heart, madrigal for 4 voices 3:20 min Choral 1594
80 Hark, jolly shepheards, madrigal for 4 voices 1:55 min Choral 1594
81 Hoe, who comes here?, madrigal for 4 voices 2:10 min Choral 1594
82 In dewe of roses, madrigal for 4 voices 2:48 min Choral 1594
83 In every place, madrigal for 4 voices 2:27 min Choral 1594
84 Now is the gentle season, madrigal in 2 sections for 4 voices 2:49 min Choral 1594
85 On a faire morning, madrigal for 4 voices 1:15 min Choral 1594
86 Say, gentle nymphs, madrigal for 4 voices 2:40 min Choral 1594
87 Arise, get up, my deere, madrigal for 3 voices 2:00 min Choral 1593
88 Canzonets, or Little Short Songs to Three Voyces 1:42 min Vocal Music 1593
89 Cease, myne eyes, madrigal for 3 voices 3:29 min Choral 1593
90 Deep lamenting, grief bewraying, madrigal for 3 voices 3:56 min Choral 1593
91 Doe you not know?, madrigal for 3 voices 1:24 min Choral 1593
92 Farewell, disdainful, madrigal for 3 voices 3:57 min Choral 1593
93 God morrow, faye ladies of the may, madrigal for 3 voices 2:10 min Choral 1593
94 Hould out, my hart, madrigal for 3 voices 1:44 min Choral 1593
95 Ladie, those eyes, madrigal for 3 voices 2:00 min Choral 1593
96 See, see, myne owne sweet jewell, madrigal for 3 voices 1:31 min Choral 1593
97 Spring tyme mantleth every bough, madrigal for 3 voices 1:44 min Choral 1593
98 Though Philomela lost hir love, madrigal for 3 voices 1:12 min Choral 1593
99 Whither awaie so fast?, madrigal for 3 voices 1:58 min Choral 1593
100 Domine, Dominus noster, motet for 5 voices 3:15 min Choral 1576
101 Domine, non est exaltum cor meum, motet for 5 voices 7:33 min Choral 1576
102 Alman, for keyboard in C major 1:58 min Keyboard -
103 Burial Service (I am the resurrection), in 7 parts for 4 voices 4:16 min Choral -
104 De profundis, motet for 6 voices 4:45 min Choral -
105 Eheu sustulerunt Dominum, motet for 4 voices 2:49 min Choral -
106 Fantasia for keyboard in D minor (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, No. 124) 5:40 min Keyboard -
107 First Service (the Verse Service), for 5 voices 35:22 min Choral -
108 Galliard for keyboard in G major 2:05 min Keyboard -
109 Galliard, arr. by P.Phillip's to be paired with the Pavin ("set by Mr Heyborne"), for consort of 5 2:19 min Chamber Music -
110 Go from my window, variations for keyboard 4:52 min Keyboard -
111 How long wilt thou forget me (Psalm 13), anthem for 5 voices 4:06 min Choral -
112 If my complaints, variations for lute on a song by J.Dowland 5:55 min Chamber Music -
113 Laboravi in gemitu meo, motet for 6 voices (probably an arrangement by Morley of a work by P.Rogier) 5:08 min Choral -
114 Lachrimae Pavane, for keybaord (after Dowland) 4:47 min Keyboard -
115 Let my complaint, anthem 4:02 min Choral -
116 Lord Souche's Maske, for consort of instruments (doubtful; probably by G.Farnaby) 2:22 min Chamber Music -
117 Madrigals and Canzonets Vocal Music -
118 Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (with fauxbourdons) 4:57 min Choral -
119 Monsieur's Almaine, for consort of instruments (arranged but probably not composed by Morley) 2:33 min Chamber Music -
120 Nancy, variations for keyboard 4:13 min Keyboard -
121 Nolo mortem peccatoris, anthem for 4 voices 3:28 min Choral -
122 Now, O now I needs must part, variations on a Dowland song for lute 2:52 min Chamber Music -
123 O amica mei, motet in 2 sections for 5 voices 5:39 min Choral -
124 Out of the deep I, anthem for 6 voices 4:07 min Choral -
125 Passymeasures Pavan, for keyboard 2:54 min Keyboard -
126 Pavin and galliard, for keyboard in A minor ("Lachrymae") (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, Nos. 153 & 154) 8:15 min Keyboard -
127 Pavin and galliard, for keyboard in D minor ("set by Mr Heyborne") 7:11 min Keyboard -
128 Pavin for lute (published in "A Varietie of Lute-Lessons") 5:10 min Chamber Music -
129 Sacred End Galliard, for lute (poss. spurious) 2:29 min Chamber Music -
130 Sacred End Pavan, for lute 3:12 min Chamber Music -
131 Short Service, for 4 voices 6:40 min Choral -
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