Philip Rosseter

From 1603 Philip Rosseter was the lutenist to King James I of England. He was in service to the throne from this date until his own death. An important publication of his "Lessons for Consort" (1609) included his own works as well as the compositions of other composers. It includes broken consorts but what is extant cannot be used to completely reconstruct these pieces. Starting in the same year, 1609, and continuing through the year 1617, Rosseter also manage a boys' theatrical company, "The Whitefriars". He continued to work for the court but compositionally his printed or published works were not of great import. In 1621, however, together with Campion the "Booke of Ayres" was published. Half of the collection are compositions by Rosseter characterized by stylistic lute accompaniments and airy, catchy melodies with an extensive amount of attractiveness. In Rosseter's earlier lute works, convention dominated demonstrating his skill as a contrapuntalist. These later works show a progression in the compositions of Rosseter. ~ Keith Johnson