Henry Lawes

Henry Lawes ( * ca December 5, 1595 in Dington ( Wiltshire), † October 21, 1662 in London ) was an English musician and composer.

Life and work

Henry Lawes received his musical education from John Cooper, better known by his Italian pseudonym Giovanni Coperario, a famous composer of his time. 1626 Lawes was one of the Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal at the English court, a position which he held until by the age of the Commonwealth, the English church music was disbanded. Also during this period continued Lawes his activities as a composer continued, and the famous collection of his vocal music entitled Ayres and Dialogues for One, Two and Three voyces appeared in 1653, followed by two further volumes of the same title from the years 1655 and 1658. With the restoration of the British monarchy in 1660 Lawes returned to the Royal Chapel and composed an anthem for the coronation of King Charles II Lawes is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Lawes name is known outside musically interested parties, as he maintained a close friendship with John Milton, for the masque Comus, he contributed the incidental music for the first performance in 1634. The poet retaliated with a sonnet in which the arts Lawes ' are described. A special gift to take poetic texts congenial music that is otherwise attributed to the English music from all Henry Purcell and Benjamin Britten is to detect even with Lawes. At the same time his music is rich in melodic ingenuity and shows in his concert music has a highly skilled contrapuntal style.

Henry Lawes was the brother of the composer William Lawes.