Thomas Lupo the elder

Thomas Lupo ( baptized August 7, 1571 in London, † December 1627 ) was an English composer of the late Elizabethan era to the dawn of the Baroque. In addition to Orlando Gibbons, John Cooper and Alfonso Ferrabosco the Elder, he shaped the music for the viola da gamba and the viol consort.

Life

Lupo was born into a family that had spawned musician for several generations. His father Joseph had come as string players from Venice to Antwerp to London, Thomas Lupo was probably born there. 1588 he joined the court chapel of Elizabeth I; his service was, however, paid only in 1591. Lupo remained for the rest of his life in the service of the royal family. During the Jacobean era, he served from 1610 to Prince Henry, from 1617 Prince Charles.

Work

Lupo was one of the most influential composers for the English viol music of the 17th century. To this end, he created sacred vocal music. He probably has a greater number of works composed, but of which no longer obtain. Many compositions of this time for the King's Musick be attributed to Lupo.

Much of his two-to six-part viol works based on his previous employment at the court of Prince Charles. Many of these pieces make use of counterpoint and voice-leading techniques of the Italian madrigal, especially the five - and six-part works. Lupo imitated the style of Luca Marenzio, whose compositions by Nicholas Yonges collection Musica transalpina ( 1588) made ​​known the madrigal in England.

His three - and four-part consort music is independent, she often writes unusual occupations before such as three bass or three Diskantstimmen. In some of the works of a Consort organ accompaniment is provided. In addition, Lupo composed numerous fantasies - Twelve six-part, 35 five-part, 13 four - and 24 three-voice - and a series of dances such as pavan, galliard and allemandes. Some of the fantasies are transcriptions of Italian madrigals.