Robert Johnson (English composer)

Robert Johnson ( * 1580, † in November 1633 in London) was an English composer and lutenist.

Robert Johnson was the son of John Johnson, the lutenist at the court of Elizabeth I.. He was a lutenist at the court of James I.. , Where he wrote music especially for the courtly masques and entertainments of the Jacobean era. After 1604 he was a lutenist of the Royal Private Musick. Later, he was until his death in 1612, the sound teacher of Prince Henry and stood until 1633 in the service at the court of Charlemagne. I as a Composer for Lute and Voices.

Johnson often collaborated with poets and dramatists of his time as Ben Jonson or Francis Beaumont, with John Fletcher, there was a regular co-operation. From 1610 to 1617 he was a composer for William Shakespeare's theater company, the King 's Men is known its original incidental music for The Tempest. He also wrote a few catches and drinking songs, and some instrumental works for lute dances.