Thomas Weelkes

Short bio Thomas Weelkes

Birthday: 1576 in Elsted, Sussex, England

Died: 1623 in London, England

Genre: Classical

Period: Renaissance

Full biography Thomas Weelkes

Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623) was an English Renaissance composer and organist, best known for his vocal music , particularly his madrigals and church music. He was appointed organist at Chichester Cathedral in 1601, and later served as organist at Winchester College from 1618 until his death in 1623.

Weelkes is considered one of the most important English composers of the early seventeenth century, and is noted for his use of chromaticism and other advanced techniques in his compositions. He wrote more Anglican services than any other major composer of the time , and his sacred compositions, which were largely written before his appointment at Chichester, are largely polyphonic and demonstrate his skill in counterpoint and harmony.

Aside from his sacred works, Weelkes also wrote music for virginal , viol, and organ. His secular works, particularly his madrigals, were highly original and often humorous, such as his piece "As Vesta Was from Latmos Hill Descending," which is famous for its lively dance rhythms and colorful harmonies.

Despite his musical achievements, Weelkes was known for his personal flaws, including his drinking and gambling habits. However, his contributions to English music and his influence on subsequent generations of composers cannot be denied.

Compositions featuring Thomas Weelkes

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Rejoice in the Lord, anthem for 4 voices (incomplete)	1:29 min	Choral	-
2	Sing wee at pleasure, madrigal for 5 voices	2:04 min	Vocal Music	-
3	Since Robin Hood, madrigal for 3 voices	1:27 min	Vocal Music	-
4	Short Service (Seventh Service), for chorus & organ (incomplete)	7:39 min	Choral	-
5	Service to the Organs in F-fa-ut (Third Service), for chorus & organ (incomplete)	8:40 min	Choral	-
6	Service in Verse for Two Counter-tenors (Sixth Service), for chorus & organ (incomplete)	7:06 min	Choral	-
7	Service in medio chori (Fifth Service), for chorus & organ (incomplete)	13:33 min	Choral	-
8	Service for Trebles (Fourth Service), for chorus & organ (incomplete)		Choral	-
9	Service for Seven Voices (Ninth Service), for chorus & organ	15:25 min	Choral	-
10	Service for Five Voices (Eighth Service), for chorus & organ (incomplete)	7:56 min	Choral	-
11	Say deere, when will your frowning, madrigal for 6 voices	2:46 min	Vocal Music	-
12	Sit downe and sing, madrigal for 3 voices	1:12 min	Vocal Music	-
13	Pavane No. 1 for 5 viols	3:27 min	Chamber Music	-
14	Pavane No.2 for 5 viols	2:55 min	Chamber Music	-
15	Pavane for keyboard	3:02 min	Keyboard	-
16	Pavane [No. 3] for 5 viols (incomplete)	2:48 min	Chamber Music	-
17	On the plains Fairy traines, madrigal for 5 voices	1:31 min	Vocal Music	-
18	O vos omnes, anthem for 6 voices	4:22 min	Choral	-
19	O mortal man, anthem for 5 voices	3:13 min	Choral	-
20	O Lord, grant the king a long life, anthem for 7 voices	3:32 min	Choral	-
21	O Lord, arise, anthem for 7 voices	3:18 min	Choral	-
22	Three times a day, madrigal for 6 voices	1:47 min	Vocal Music	-
23	Young cupid hath proclaimed, madrigal for 4 voices	2:01 min	Vocal Music	-
24	When David heard (O my son Absalom), sacred madrigal in 2 sections for 6 voices	4:13 min	Choral	-
25	What joy so true, anthem for 5 voices & organ	5:04 min	Choral	-
26	What have the gods, madrigal in 2 sections for 6 voices	6:14 min	Vocal Music	-
27	Welcome sweet pleasure, madrigal for 5 voices	1:47 min	Vocal Music	-
28	Voluntaries (2) for keyboard	4:14 min	Keyboard	-
29	To shorten winter's sadness, madrigal for 5 voices	2:22 min	Vocal Music	-
30	Thus sings my dearest jewell, madrigal for 3 voices	1:13 min	Vocal Music	-
31	Thule the period of cosmographie, madrigal in 2 sections for 6 voices	4:17 min	Vocal Music	-
32	O Jonathan, woe is me, sacred madrigal for 6 voices	2:26 min	Choral	-
33	Those sweet delightful lilies, madrigal for 5 voices	2:11 min	Vocal Music	-
34	The Nightingale the organ of delight, madrigal for 3 voices	1:44 min	Vocal Music	-
35	The First Service to the Organs in Gamut, for chorus & organ (incomplete)		Choral	-
36	The Cries of London, for 5 voices	7:45 min	Vocal Music	-
37	The ape, the monkey, madrigal for 3 voices	1:33 min	Vocal Music	-
38	Tan ta ra ran tan tant, cryes Mars, madrigal for 3 voices	1:19 min	Vocal Music	-
39	Sweet hart arise, madrigal for 5 voices	1:27 min	Vocal Music	-
40	Strike it up tabor, madrigal for 3 voices	1:36 min	Vocal Music	-
41	Some men desire spouses, madrigal for 3 voices	1:54 min	Vocal Music	-
42	Christ rising (incomplete), anthem in 2 sections for 5 voices & organ	7:01 min	Choral	-
43	Gloria in excelsis Deo, Sing, my soul, to God, anthem for 6 voices	3:24 min	Choral	-
44	Give the king thy judgements, anthem for 6 voices & organ	5:14 min	Choral	-
45	Give ear, O Lord, anthem for 5 voices & organ	5:47 min	Choral	-
46	Four arms, two necks, one wreathing, madrigal for 3 voices	2:20 min	Vocal Music	-
47	Fantasia, for 2 basses	1:33 min	Chamber Music	-
48	Deliver us, O Lord, for 5(?) voices (doubtful)	3:37 min	Choral	-
49	Death hath deprived me, madrigal for 6 voices	3:06 min	Vocal Music	-
50	Come, let's begin to revel't out, madrigal for 3 voices	1:55 min	Vocal Music	-
51	Come sirrah Jack, hoe, madrigal for 3 voices	1:51 min	Vocal Music	-
52	Ha ha this world doth passe, madrigal for 3 voices	2:09 min	Vocal Music	-
53	Cease sorrowes now, madrigal for 3 voices	3:17 min	Vocal Music	-
54	Cease now delight, madrigal for 6 voices	4:39 min	Vocal Music	-
55	As wanton birds, madrigal for 5 voices	1:30 min	Vocal Music	-
56	As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending, madrigal for 6 voices	3:19 min	Choral	-
57	Anthems		Choral	-
58	Alleluia, I heard a voice, anthem for 5 voices & organ	2:50 min	Choral	-
59	All people clap your hands, for 5 voices	1:50 min	Choral	-
60	All laud and praise, anthem for 4 voices & organ	6:12 min	Choral	-
61	All at once well met faire ladies, madrigal for 5 voices	2:18 min	Vocal Music	-
62	Like two proud armies, madrigal for 6 voices	1:40 min	Vocal Music	-
63	O how amiable, anthem for 5 voices	2:59 min	Choral	-
64	O happy he, anthem for 5 voices	1:30 min	Choral	-
65	O care wilt thou dispatch mee, madrigal in 2 sections for 5 voices	4:32 min	Choral	-
66	Noel, Adieu thou court's delight, madrigal for 6 voices	5:49 min	Vocal Music	-
67	Most mighty and all-knowing Lord, consort song for 4 voices	3:33 min	Vocal Music	-
68	Mars in a fury, madrigal for 6 voices	1:35 min	Vocal Music	-
69	Madrigal(s)		Vocal Music	-
70	Lord, to thee I make my moan, anthem for 5 voices	2:40 min	Choral	-
71	Lord when I thinke, madrigal for 3 voices	1:49 min	Vocal Music	-
72	A country paire, for band	2:05 min	Band Music	-
73	Lachrimae, for 5 viols	3:09 min	Chamber Music	-
74	Laboravi in gemitu meo, anthem for 6 voices (incomplete)	4:06 min	Choral	-
75	In pride of May, madrigal for 5 voices	2:33 min	Vocal Music	-
76	In Nomine No.2, for 5 viols	3:09 min	Chamber Music	-
77	In Nomine No.1, for 4 viols	2:15 min	Chamber Music	-
78	If King Manasses, anthem for 6 voices & organ	6:45 min	Choral	-
79	I bei ligustri e rose, madrigal for 3 voices	3:02 min	Vocal Music	-
80	Hosanna to the Son of David, anthem for 6 voices	2:04 min	Choral	-
81	Harke all ye lovely saints above, madrigal for 5 voices	3:09 min	Vocal Music	-

Albums featuring Thomas Weelkes

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Weelkes, Byrd – The King's Singers, Fretwork – Tom + Will(CD, )	2023	Signum Classics
2	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
3	Byrd, Gibbons, Holborne, Peerson, Weelkes, Fretwork, Helen Charlston – An Elizabethan Christmas	2021	Signum Classics
4	Thomas Weelkes / The Choir Of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, Fretwork, David Skinner (4) – Grant The King A Long Life (English Anthems & Instrumental Music)(CD, )	2012	Obsidian
5	Choir Of Clare College, Cambridge, Timothy Brown (3), Palestrina, Allegri, Ramsey, Weelkes, Tallis, Josquin, Byrd – Lamentations(CD, Album)	2009	Brilliant Classics
6	Tallis • Byrd • Palestrina • Taverner • Jackson • Casals • Poulenc • Weelkes • Scarlatti - The Choir Of Canterbury Cathedral, Timothy Noon Directed By David Flood – Passion(CD, Album)	2000	York Ambisonic
7	Weelkes - The Consort Of Musicke / Anthony Rooley – Madrigals & Anthems	1999	ASV
8	Weelkes - Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly – Anthems	1995	Naxos
9	Weelkes, Tomkins, The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge, Richard Marlow – When David Heard... (Athems By Weelkes, Tomkins)(CD, )	1993	Conifer Classics
10	Thomas Weelkes - Winchester Cathedral Choir, David Hill – Cathedral Music	1992	Hyperion
11	Thomas Weelkes, The Choir Of The Abbey School, Tewkesbury, Paul Brough – Cathedral Music	1990	Duo (5)
12	Thomas Weelkes, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Stephen Darlington – Ninth Sevice And Anthems(CD, Album)	1988	Nimbus Records
13	Rekkenze Ensemble - J.S.Bach, L. Maurer, F. Möckl, Th. Weelkes – Rekkenze Ensemble(LP)	1984	Gallo (4)
14	Thomas Weelkes, Henry Purcell, Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Munday – Kerkmuziek Dom Utrecht 1983(LP, Stereo)	1983	Not On Label
15	Purcell, S. Wesley, Tallis, Weelkes, Palestrina, Victoria, Gesualdo, Monteverdi, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Bruckner, Duruflé, Fauré, Vaughan Williams, Britten, Ireland, The Choir Of St. John's College, Cambridge, George Guest (2) – A Choral Festiv	1978	Argo (2)
16	Thomas Weelkes, The Wilbye Consort, Peter Pears – Madrigals by Thomas Weelkes(LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo)	1973	London Records
17	Thomas Weelkes / Deller Consort – Les Cris De Londres / The Cries Of London	1972	Harmonia Mundi France
18	Monteverdi, Schütz, Josquin, Lassus, Gesualdo, Dowland, Farmer, Weelkes, Morley, Lawes, Ponce, The Sine Nomine Singers, Harry Saltzman – Kissing, Drinking And Insect Songs	1972	Turnabout
19	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
20	Thomas Weelkes / Thomas Tallis, The Choir Of St. John's College, Cambridge Director George Guest (2) – Tudor Church Music	1961	Argo (2)
21	Thomas Weelkes, Thomas Bateson - The Randolph Singers Conducted By David Randolph (2) – English Madrigals of Weelkes and Bateson(LP, Mono)	1955	Westminster
22	The Tallis Scholars Directed By Peter Phillips (2) - Ramsey • Tomkins • Vauter • Weelkes • Wilbye • Bennet • Farnaby • Gibbons • Morley – English Madrigals(LP, Stereo)	-	Angel Eminence
23	Thomas Tallis, Orlando Gibbons, Christopher Tye, Thomas Weelkes, William Byrd, Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly – Early English Choral Music(5×CD, Stereo)	-	Naxos