Thomas Tomkins

Short bio Thomas Tomkins

Birthday: 1572 in St. David's, Pembrokeshire, England

Died: 1656 in Martin Hussingtree, Worcester, England

Genre: Classical

Period: Baroque

Full biography Thomas Tomkins

Thomas Tomkins (1572 – June 9, 1656) was a Welsh-born composer of the late Tudor and early Stuart period. He was born in St David's, Pembrokeshire, Wales, and was baptized on 17 January 1572. He became a choirboy at St David's Cathedral in 1578. Later, he studied at the University of Oxford and was organist at Worcester Cathedral, and then at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Tomkins wrote a large quantity of vocal music , as well as many works for keyboard and instrumental ensemble. He is most famous for his anthems, with which he contributed significantly to the development of English church music. He also wrote verse anthems, madrigals, and consort music for viols.

Tomkins was a contemporary and sometimes student of William Byrd. His music reflects the transition from Renaissance to Baroque styles. His last works, such as his setting of the burial service, are considered among his finest.

Tomkins was a highly respected musician in his time, and his music continues to be performed today. He was married and had three children, all of whom became musicians.

Compositions featuring Thomas Tomkins

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Almighty and Everlasting God, Which Hatest Nothing, for chorus & organ	2:54 min	Choral	1668
2	Short Pavane for keyboard	2:11 min	Keyboard	1654
3	In Nomine, for keyboard, MB11	4:30 min	Keyboard	1650
4	Gloria tibi Trinitas, for organ	4:29 min	Keyboard	1648
5	A Paven, for keyboard	4:16 min	Keyboard	1647
6	A Paven, for keyboard	6:10 min	Keyboard	1647
7	Pavan Earl Strafford, for keyboard, MB43	4:39 min	Keyboard	1647
8	Prelude for keyboard	2:23 min	Keyboard	1647
9	A Fantasy (Fancy), for organ	4:06 min	Keyboard	1646
10	A Fantasy, for viol consort	3:01 min	Chamber Music	1646
11	A Fancy "for Two to Play", for organ, 4 hands in A minor (Musica Britannica 32)	2:37 min	Keyboard	1645
12	Voluntary for keyboard	2:36 min	Keyboard	1645
13	O God, the heathen are come, anthem (incomplete, reconstructed by John Milsom)	10:06 min	Choral	164?
14	Adue, Ye Citty-Prisoning Towers for 5 voices	2:10 min	Vocal Music	1622
15	Cloris, when as I woe, madrigal for 5 voices	2:32 min	Choral	1622
16	Come, sheperds, sing with me, madrigal for 5 voices	2:11 min	Choral	1622
17	Fusca, in thy starry eyes, madrigal for 5 voices	2:39 min	Choral	1622
18	Musicke divine, madrigal for 6 voices	3:47 min	Choral	1622
19	Oft did I marle, madrigal for 6 voices	2:32 min	Choral	1622
20	Phyllis, yet see him dying, madrigal for 5 voices	2:24 min	Choral	1622
21	See, See the Shepheards' Queene for 5 voices (madrigal)	2:09 min	Vocal Music	1622
22	Too Much I Once Lamented for 5 voices	4:48 min	Choral	1622
23	Turne unto the Lord, madrigal for 6 voices	2:38 min	Choral	1622
24	Was ever wretch tormented, madrigal for 4 voices	4:10 min	Choral	1622
25	Weepe No More, Thou Sorry Boy for 4 voices	3:19 min	Choral	1622
26	When David Heard That Absalom Was Slain, for 5 voices	4:41 min	Choral	1622
27	When I observe, madrigal for 6 voices	2:57 min	Choral	1622
28	Yet again, as soon revived, madrigal for 4 voices	3:31 min	Choral	1622
29	The fauns and satyrs tripping, madrigal for 5 voices	4:22 min	Choral	1601
30	A Fancy, for keyboard	3:22 min	Keyboard	-
31	A Paven, for keyboard (August 20, 1650)	3:42 min	Keyboard	-
32	A Short Verse for Edward Thornburgh, for keyboard	1:14 min	Keyboard	-
33	A Substantial Verse, for keyboard	5:29 min	Keyboard	-
34	A Verse of Three Parts, for keyboard	2:47 min	Keyboard	-
35	Above the Stars My Saviour Dwells, for 1 to 6 voices & organ	4:03 min	Vocal Music	-
36	Almain in F major, for 4 viols	1:47 min	Chamber Music	-
37	Almighty God, the Fountain of All Wisdom, for 5 voices & organ	6:12 min	Vocal Music	-
38	Almighty God, which hast knit together, anthem for 8 voices & organ	5:10 min	Choral	-
39	Another Short Verse, for keyboard	1:07 min	Keyboard	-
40	Arise, O Lord, Into Thy Resting Place	4:43 min	Choral	-
41	Barafostus Dreame (Musica Britannica 62)	5:07 min	Keyboard	-
42	Be Strong and of A Good Courage for 7 voices & organ	2:52 min	Vocal Music	-
43	Behold, I bring you glad tidings, anthem for 1 to 10 voices & organ	3:40 min	Choral	-
44	Behold, the Hour Cometh, for 3 to 4 voices & organ	3:59 min	Vocal Music	-
45	Bitts or Morcells, for keyboard (Fragment)	0:23 min	Keyboard	-
46	Clarifica Me Pater, for keyboard	2:37 min	Keyboard	-
47	Death Iis Swallowed up in Victory, verse anthem for chorus & organ	4:47 min	Choral	-
48	Domine, Tu Eruisti Animam Meam	4:22 min	Choral	-
49	Fantasia for 3 viols No. 1	2:05 min	Chamber Music	-
50	Fantasia for 3 viols No. 7, VdGS 9	3:11 min	Chamber Music	-
51	Fantasia for 3 viols No. 8	3:04 min	Chamber Music	-
52	Fantasia for 3 viols No. 9	2:38 min	Chamber Music	-
53	Fantasia for 3 viols No. 10	3:04 min	Chamber Music	-
54	Fantasia for 3 viols No. 12	2:46 min	Chamber Music	-
55	Fantasia for 3 viols No. 14	3:22 min	Chamber Music	-
56	Fantasia for 3 viols No. 17	2:23 min	Chamber Music	-
57	Fantasia for 6 viols No. 1	4:58 min	Chamber Music	-
58	Fantasia for 6 viols No. 2	4:52 min	Chamber Music	-
59	Fantasia for 6 viols No. 3	5:24 min	Chamber Music	-
60	Fantasia No. 18	2:33 min	Chamber Music	-
61	Fifth Service	7:49 min	Choral	-
62	Fond men that do so highly prize	1:54 min	Vocal Music	-
63	Fortune My Foe	9:03 min	Keyboard	-
64	Funeral Sentences	8:16 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
65	Galliard Earl Strafford, for keyboard, MB44	2:27 min	Keyboard	-
66	Galliard for 6 viols	1:51 min	Chamber Music	-
67	Galliard of Three Parts	1:34 min	Orchestral	-
68	Galliard, Thomas Simpson, for 5 viols & organ	2:01 min	Chamber Music	-
69	Give Ear to My Words, for chorus & organ	5:37 min	Choral	-
70	Give sentence	7:44 min	Choral	-
71	Glory Be To God on High, for 7 voices & organ	5:42 min	Vocal Music	-
72	Go From My Window, for keyboard (Fragment)	0:37 min	Keyboard	-
73	Great and marvellous are thy works, for chorus & organ	2:33 min	Choral	-
74	Ground for keyboard	6:44 min	Keyboard	-
75	Ground in G, for keyboard (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, No. 130)	7:34 min	Keyboard	-
76	Ground, for keyboard, MB 40	3:53 min	Keyboard	-
77	Have mercy on me	2:16 min	Choral	-
78	Hear my prayer, O Lord	4:31 min	Choral	-
79	How great delight from those sweet lips I taste	1:55 min	Vocal Music	-
80	I heard a voice from heaven	2:30 min	Vocal Music	-
81	In Nomine (Version I)	6:23 min	Keyboard	-
82	In Nomine a 3	2:05 min	Chamber Music	-
83	In Nomine for keyboard No 8	5:15 min	Keyboard	-
84	In Nomine for keyboard No 9	3:31 min	Keyboard	-
85	In Nomine for keyboard No 12	3:30 min	Keyboard	-
86	In Nomine ll, for 3 viols	4:02 min	Chamber Music	-
87	In Nomine, for organ	3:42 min	Keyboard	-
88	It Is My Well-Beloved's voice for 6 voices	2:50 min	Vocal Music	-
89	Jesus Came When the Doors Were Shut, verse anthem for chorus & organ	3:46 min	Choral	-
90	Know you not	8:24 min	Choral	-
91	Lady Folliott's Galliard	1:35 min	Orchestral	-
92	Love, cease tormenting	3:02 min	Vocal Music	-
93	Miserere for keyboard No 13	1:49 min	Choral	-
94	Miserere for keyboard No 14	1:29 min	Choral	-
95	Miserere for keyboard No 15	1:23 min	Choral	-
96	Miserere for keyboard No 17	2:01 min	Choral	-
97	Miserere for keyboard No 18	4:25 min	Choral	-
98	Miserere for keyboard No 19	1:31 min	Choral	-
99	Miserere for lkeyboard No 20	1:22 min	Choral	-
100	Miserere, for organ	3:37 min	Keyboard	-
101	My Beloved Spake Unto Me, for 4 voices & organ	4:56 min	Vocal Music	-
102	My help cometh from the Lord	4:55 min	Choral	-
103	My Shepherd Is the Living Lord, for 2 to 4 voices & organ	3:58 min	Vocal Music	-
104	No more I will thy love importune	1:53 min	Vocal Music	-
105	O Give Thanks unto the Lord, for chorus & organ	2:05 min	Choral	-
106	O God, the Proud Are Risen Against Me, for 8 voices & organ	3:52 min	Choral	-
107	O How Amiable, for chorus	2:49 min	Choral	-
108	O Let Me Dye for True Love, madrigal	4:01 min	Vocal Music	-
109	O let me live for true love, madrigal	4:11 min	Choral	-
110	O Lord, how manifold	2:06 min	Choral	-
111	O Lord, let me know mine end, verse anthem	6:11 min	Choral	-
112	O Praise the Lord All Ye Heathen	3:36 min	Choral	-
113	O Sing Unto the Lord A New Song, for 7 voices & organ	3:33 min	Vocal Music	-
114	Offertory for keyboard	15:27 min	Choral	-
115	Our hasty life away doth post	2:08 min	Vocal Music	-
116	Out of the deep, anthem for 5 voices	4:06 min	Choral	-
117	Oyez! Has Any Found A Lad? for 4 voices (madrigal)	1:48 min	Vocal Music	-
118	Paduan with division to it, for keyboard	4:42 min	Keyboard	-
119	Pavan for 5 viols No. 7 in F major	1:20 min	Chamber Music	-
120	Pavan for 6 viols	3:35 min	Chamber Music	-
121	Pavan for keyboard (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, No. 123)	7:13 min	Keyboard	-
122	Pavan for Lord Canterbury	4:39 min	Orchestral	-
123	Pavan of Three Parts	3:40 min	Orchestral	-
124	Pavane ("For These Distracted Times") for keyboard (February 1649)	5:05 min	Keyboard	-
125	Pavane and galliard, Earl Strafford, for harpsichord	4:55 min	Keyboard	-
126	Pavane for 4 viols in F major	3:21 min	Orchestral	-
127	Pavane for 5 instruments in F	4:04 min	Orchestral	-
128	Pavane for 5 viols & organ in A minor	4:29 min	Keyboard	-
129	Phyllis, Now Cease to Move Me	2:28 min	Choral	-
130	Phyllis, yet see him dying	2:16 min	Vocal Music	-
131	Preces, for chorus & organ	1:23 min	Choral	-
132	Psalm 61 for chorus & organ ("Hear My Crying, O God")	3:31 min	Choral	-
133	Rejoice, rejoice and singe	6:28 min	Vocal Music	-
134	Remember me, O Lord (Psalm 106:4), anthem	2:57 min	Choral	-
135	Responses, for chorus & organ	3:38 min	Choral	-
136	Robbin Hood, for keyboard	5:46 min	Keyboard	-
137	Sad Pavan, for organ	5:15 min	Keyboard	-
138	Short Verse for organ	2:20 min	Keyboard	-
139	Sing Unto God, for 2 to 5 voices & organ	6:22 min	Choral	-
140	Sixth Service, for chorus & organ		Choral	-
141	Sure, there is no god of Love!	2:01 min	Vocal Music	-
142	The Fourth Service, for chorus & organ	9:35 min	Choral	-
143	The galliard to the pavan in A re, for keyboard	2:51 min	Keyboard	-
144	The Heavens Declare, for chorus	2:56 min	Choral	-
145	The Hunting Galliard	2:13 min	Orchestral	-
146	The Perpetual Round	3:07 min	Keyboard	-
147	The Seventh Service, for chorus & organ	8:09 min	Choral	-
148	Then David Mourned, for 5 voices & organ	3:10 min	Vocal Music	-
149	Third Service for voices & organ "Great"	30:11 min	Choral	-
150	Thou art my King, O God, verse anthem for 5 viols & 5 voices	4:17 min	Choral	-
151	To the shady woods	1:27 min	Choral	-
152	Toy made at Poole Court, for keyboard, MB67	1:40 min	Keyboard	-
153	Toy, Made At Poole Court, for keyboard	2:23 min	Keyboard	-
154	Ut re mi, hexachord fantasia for 4 viols	6:28 min	Chamber Music	-
155	Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, "For a Beginner," for keyboard	15:55 min	Keyboard	-
156	Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, "For a Beginner," for keyboard	1:14 min	Keyboard	-
157	Verse for keyboard in A minor	1:48 min	Keyboard	-
158	Voluntary for keyboard in A minor	3:26 min	Keyboard	-
159	Voluntary for keyboard in C major	3:34 min	Keyboard	-
160	Voluntary for keyboard in D major	2:16 min	Keyboard	-
161	Voluntary for Mr. Archdeacon Thornburgh, for keyboard	3:07 min	Keyboard	-
162	What if a Day, for keyboard	2:23 min	Keyboard	-
163	When I observe those beauty's wonderments	2:52 min	Vocal Music	-
164	Who Can Tell How Oft He Offendeth, for chorus & organ	4:57 min	Choral	-
165	Without Title No 68, for keyboard	4:28 min	Keyboard	-
166	Woe Is Me for 6 voices	4:02 min	Vocal Music	-
167	Worster Braules, for keyboard (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, No. 206)	1:33 min	Keyboard	-

Albums featuring Thomas Tomkins

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	The Chapel Choir Of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, Newe Vialles, Orpheus Britannicus Vocal Consort, Andrew Arthur (2) - Gibbons, Tomkins & Weelkes – See, See, The Word Is Incarnate (Choral & Instrumental Music By Gibbons, Tomkins & Weelkes)(CD, Albu	2021	Resonus Classics
2	Thomas Tomkins, The Choir Of HM Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, Rufus Frowde, Carl Jackson (7) – O Give Thanks Unto The Lord(CD, )	2020	Resonus Classics
3	Orlando Gibbons, John Dowland, William Byrd, Thomas Tomkins, Anthony Holborne – Musiques Au Temps De Byrd, Gibbons Et Dowland(CD, Compilation)	2019	Diapason
4	Couperin, Frescobaldi, Purcell, Tomkins, Pieter-Jan Belder – Basso Ostinato: Passacaglias & Chaconnes(CD, Album)	2018	Brilliant Classics
5	Mahan Esfahani - Bull, Byrd, Farnaby, Gibbons, Inglot, Tomkins – The Passinge Mesures (Music Of The English Virginalists)(CD, Album)	2018	Hyperion
6	Thomas Tomkins, Choir Of Magdalen College, Oxford, Phantasm (3), Laurence Dreyfus, Daniel Hyde – Anthems & Canticles(CD, )	2016	Opus Arte
7	Thomas Tomkins - Choir Of St. John's College, Cambridge, Andrew Nethsingha – When David Heard - Sacred Choral Works(CD, )	2014	Chandos
8	Purcell / Morley / Tomkins - Vox Luminis / Lionel Meunier – English Royal Funeral Music(CD, Album)	2013	Ricercar
9	Tomkins – Bertrand Cuiller – Mr Tomkins His Lessons Of Worthe(CD, )	2011	Mirare
10	Thomas Tomkins, Fretwork, Alamire, The Choir Of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, David Skinner (4) – These Distracted Times(CD, Album)	2007	Obsidian
11	Thomas Tomkins • Fretwork – Above The Starrs(CD, Album)	2003	Harmonia Mundi
12	Tomkins, Carole Cerasi – Barafostus Dreame(CD, Album)	2001	Metronome Recordings
13	Thomas Tomkins - Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly, Laurence Cummings – Choral And Organ Music(CD, Album)	1999	Naxos
14	Dufay, Obrecht, Isaac, Senfl, Byrd, Gibbons, Tomkins, Jenkins – The Glory Of Early Music	1997	Naxos
15	Thomas Tomkins - Bernhard Klapprott – Keyboard Music Vol. 3(CD, Album)	1997	MDG
16	Thomas Tomkins - Bernhard Klapprott – Keyboard Music Vol. 4(CD, Album)	1997	MDG
17	Thomas Tomkins - Bernhard Klapprott – Keyboard Music Vol. 2(CD, Album)	1996	MDG
18	Thomas Tomkins, Rose Consort Of Viols, Red Byrd, Timothy Roberts, John Bryan (3) – Consort Music For Viols And Voices / Keyboard Music(CD, Album)	1995	Naxos
19	Francis Jacob, Bœhm - Purcell - Hanff - Bach - Tomkins - Buxtehude – À L'Orgue Aubertin De Saessolsheim(CD, Stereo)	1995	Association Amis De L'Orgue De Saessolsheim
20	Thomas Tomkins, The Choir Of New College Oxford Directed By Edward Higginbottom – The Third Service And Anthems(CD, )	1994	CRD Records
21	Weelkes, Tomkins, The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge, Richard Marlow – When David Heard... (Athems By Weelkes, Tomkins)(CD, )	1993	Conifer Classics
22	Tomkins • Gibbons • Bull • Purcell • Byrd • Boyce / Ton Koopman – The Organ At Adlington Hall(CD, Album)	1991	Capriccio (2)
23	Thomas Tomkins - The Tallis Scholars Directed By Peter Phillips (2) – The Great Service	1991	Gimell
24	Handel • Tomkins • Carlton • Bull • Walond • Burney / Ton Koopman – The Organ At St. James The Great, Great Packington(CD, )	1990	Capriccio (2)
25	Thomas Tomkins, Choir Of St George's Chapel, Windsor, Roger Judd, Christopher Robinson – Cathedral Music By Thomas Tomkins	1989	Hyperion
26	Taverner, Sheppard, Fayrfax, Tomkins, Tallis, Byrd - Choir Of Jesus College Cambridge Directed By Geraint Bowen – Aeternae Laudis Lilium(LP, Album, Stereo)	1985	Alpha (6)
27	Thomas Tomkins - The Choir Of Magdalen College, Oxford, Bernard Rose (2) – Music From Musica Deo Sacra	1979	Argo (2)
28	Deller Consort, Thomas Tomkins, Ensemble De Violes De La Schola Cantorum De Bâle, Alfred Deller – Madrigaux, Ballets & Fantasies, Musica Deo Sacra	1974	Harmonia Mundi
29	Wilbye, Tomkins & Gibbons, The Wilbye Consort Directed By Peter Pears – Madrigals By Wilbye, Tomkins & Gibbons(LP, Stereo)	1974	Decca
30	Thomas Tomkins / John Bull / William Byrd / Orlando Gibbons / Giles Farnaby - Gustav Leonhardt – English Virginalists	1973	BASF/Harmonia Mundi
31	Igor Kipnis, Thurston Dart - Mozart, Byrd, Farnaby, Tomkins, Le Roux, Handel, Couperin – Music For Two Harpsichords(LP, Album)	1972	Columbia Masterworks
32	Weelkes • Tomkins – Music Of The Court Homes And Cities Of England Volume 6 - Composers Of Chichester And Worcester(LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo)	1970	The Record Society
33	W. Lawes • H. Lawes • A. Ferrabosco II • N. Laniere • Deering • Tomkins, Tessier • Morley • Holborne • Dowland • Conversi – Music Of The Court Homes And Cities Of England, Volume 3: Composers Of Whitehall Palace & Wilton House(LP, Album, Club Edition	1969	The Record Society
34	Gustav Leonhardt - Farnaby / Tomkins / Frescobaldi / Joh. Seb. Bach / Joh. Chr. Bach – Cembalomusik Auf Originalinstrumenten • Harpsichord Music On Original Instruments	1967	Telefunken
35	William Byrd, John Dowland, Thomas Tomkins – La Musica Inglese Dal Quattrocento Al Primo Seicento(7", 33 ⅓ RPM)	1967	Fratelli Fabbri Editori
36	Thomas Tomkins - The Elizabethan Singers, Louis Halsey – Love, Cease Tormenting (Madrigals By Thomas Tomkins)	1966	His Master's Voice
37	Thomas Tomkins - The Chapel Choir Of Magdalen College, Oxford, Bernard Rose (2) – Tudor Church Music	1961	Argo (2)
38	Thomas Tomkins, The Ambrosian Singers & The In Nomine Players Conducted By Denis Stevens – Secular Music	1957	ORYX
39	Thomas Tomkins - Martindale Sidwell, The In Nomine Players, The Ambrosian Singers Conductor Denis Stevens – Volume 1 : Musica Deo Sacra	1957	Expériences Anonymes
40	William Byrd, Thomas Tomkins, Thurston Dart – Masters Of Early English Keyboard Music II(LP, Album, Mono)	1955	London Records
41	The Tallis Scholars Directed By Peter Phillips (2) - Ramsey • Tomkins • Vauter • Weelkes • Wilbye • Bennet • Farnaby • Gibbons • Morley – English Madrigals(LP, Stereo)	-	Angel Eminence
42	Thomas Tomkins, The Ambrosian Singers, The In Nomine Players Conducted By Denis Stevens – Secular And Sacred Music(LP)	-	ORYX
43	Berner Flötenquartett : Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Thomas Tomkins, Samuel Scheidt, Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Ludwig van Beethoven, Claude Debussy, Pierre-Max Dubois, Joseph Lauber, Ingolf Dahl, Klaus Sonnenburg, Jost Meier, Nicholas Sackman – Berner Flöt	-	Suisa
44	Thomas Tomkins - Bernhard Klapprott – Keyboard Music Vol. 1(CD, Album)	-	MDG
45	The Dolmetsch Ensemble, Campra, Thos. Tomkins, Straloch M.S., Finger, J. S. Bach, Telemann – Les Festes Vénitiennes(LP)	-	Chantry Records (3)