William Mundy

Short bio William Mundy

Birthday: 1528

Died: 1591

Genre: Classical

Period: Renaissance

Full biography William Mundy

William Mundy (c. 1529-1591) was a Renaissance English composer of sacred music ). He was the father of composer John Mundy and one of the leading figures in the development of Renaissance polyphony in England ). Despite his significant contributions to music, little is known about Mundy's life, and only a handful of his works survive.

Mundy's music is characterized by its complexity, ornate style, and use of polyphony, a technique in which multiple voices are sung or played simultaneously. His compositions include motets, votive antiphons, and other pieces of sacred vocal music. At least one writer praised him as the second greatest composer of the age , after William Byrd, with whom he is often compared.

Today, Mundy is considered one of the most important English composers of the Renaissance. His works have been performed and recorded by numerous choral ensembles, including The Sixteen and the Choir of St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh. Some of his most famous compositions include the votive antiphon "Vox Patris Caelestis" and the motet "O Lord, the Maker of All Thing."

Overall, William Mundy's contribution to the development of Renaissance polyphony in England cannot be overstated. Though little is known about his life, his music remains an important part of the choral repertoire and a testament to his enduring legacy as a composer.

Compositions featuring William Mundy

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Were I a King	2:29 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1594
2	Veni, creator Spiritus	8:34 min	Choral	155?
3	Maria virgo sanctissima, for chorus	14:58 min	Choral	-
4	Vox Patris Caelestis, for 6 voices	18:24 min	Vocal Music	-
5	Videte Miraculum, for 5 voices	8:41 min	Vocal Music	-
6	Tres Partes In Una	0:59 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
7	The Secret Sins	3:48 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
8	Te Deum, for treble voices (from the Chirk Castle Part Book)	8:03 min	Vocal Music	-
9	Sive Vigilem, for 5 voices	3:15 min	Vocal Music	-
10	O mater mundi a 5	3:11 min	Chamber Music	-
11	O Lord, the world's Saviour, for chorus	3:27 min	Choral	-
12	O Lord, the Maker of All Things, anthem for 4 voices	3:07 min	Choral	-
13	Nunc Dimittis	3:21 min	Choral	-
14	Memor esto verbi tui, motet for 5 voices	7:13 min	Choral	-
15	Adhaesit pavimento	7:16 min	Vocal Music	-
16	Magnificat 'in medio chori'	7:50 min	Choral	-
17	Magnificat	7:45 min	Choral	-
18	Kyrie	4:15 min	Choral	-
19	In Æternum a 6 (British Library, Add. MS 31390)	4:36 min	Chamber Music	-
20	In Nomine, on D for 5 voices	3:10 min	Chamber Music	-
21	In exitu Israel, antiphon (collaborative work)	17:17 min	Choral	-
22	Fantasia	4:02 min		-
23	Exurge Christe, motet for 4 voices	0:54 min	Choral	-
24	Benedictus, for treble voices (from the Chirk Castle Part Book)	7:50 min	Vocal Music	-
25	Beatus et Sanctus, for 5 voices	2:21 min	Choral	-
26	Alleluia Per te Dei Genitrix, for chorus	5:52 min	Choral	-
27	Ah, Helpless Wretch, anthem for 5 voices & organ	6:05 min	Choral	-
28	Adolescentulus Sum Ego, for 6 voices	5:37 min	Vocal Music	-

Albums featuring William Mundy

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	William Mundy, Choir Of St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, Duncan Ferguson (3) – Sacred Choral Music(CD, Album)	2018	Delphian
2	The Sixteen, Harry Christophers, Robert Fayrfax, John Taverner, John Sheppard, William Mundy – The Golden Age Of English Polyphony(10×CD, Reissue, Box Set, Compilation)	2009	Hyperion
3	Christopher Tye, William Mundy - Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly – Missa Euge Bone / Peccavimus / Omnes Gentes / Kyrie / Magnificat	1994	Naxos
4	William Mundy, The Sixteen, Harry Christophers – Cathedral Music	1989	Hyperion
5	Allegri / Mundy / Palestrina, The Tallis Scholars Directed By Peter Phillips (2) – Miserere / Vox Patris Caelestis / Missa Papae Marcelli	1980	Classics For Pleasure
6	Healey Willan, William Mundy, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons, Orlando di Lasso, Elmer Iseler, The Festival Singers – The Festival Singers Conducted By Elmer Iseler(10", 33 ⅓ RPM, Album)	1955	Hallmark (4)