Thomas Simpson (composer)
Thomas Simpson ( born April 1, 1582 Milton -next- Sittingbourne ( Swale, Kent ); † before June 22, 1628 in Copenhagen) was an English composer, viol player, violinist and music publisher.
Life and work
Thomas Simpson received in 1608 a position in the court orchestra of the Count Palatine Frederick IV in Heidelberg. From 1612 to 1622 he worked as a violinist and viola da gamba player in the court orchestra of Count Ernst Bückeburger III. of Holstein- Schaumburg. With countrymen like William Brade or the lutenist George Webster and his son Maurice Webster († 1636) was one of Simpson to the musicians as an independent ensemble (the english music) and occurred over the other court musicians possessed special privileges. From 1622 to 1625 Simpson was on the Danish King Christian IV courtyard active in Copenhagen, with the high annual salary of 350 thalers. No evidence has been found so far on his last years.