Thomas Weelkes

Biography

The reputation of English composer Thomas Weelkes (1575-1623) rests mainly upon his three published books of madrigals, including some of the finest English madrigals of the age; no small feat when one considers that Thomas Morley and Orlando Gibbons were both active at this time. Weelkes never held a royal court position and worked most of his life as organist at Chichester Cathedral, a tenuously held job owing to Weelkes' alcoholism and uttering of blasphemous oaths during services; he was fired and rehired numerous times. Weelkes also left behind a small but respectable output of service music and instrumental works as well.

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