Thomas Morley

English composer Thomas Morley (ca. 1557-1602) inherited the mantle of his master, William Byrd, and was an exponent of the late sixteenth century English madrigal. First known as a musician at the Cathedral of Norwich, Morley achieved a degree at Oxford in 1588 and became organist at St. Paul's in London, serving in the Chapel Royal; he may have known William Shakespeare. Between 1593 and his death in 1602, Morley published 12 volumes of music, including at least four books of madrigals, many arranged from Italian pieces, motets, and anthems. "Aprill is in my mistris face" remains his best-known work.