Edward Johnson (composer) facts for kids

Edward Johnson was an English composer who was active between 1572 and 1601. His music was very popular back then, but sadly, not many of his songs are still around today.

Who Was Edward Johnson?

Edward Johnson was born around 1549. He wrote music for important families during Queen Elizabeth I's time. He worked closely with the Kitson family for a long time. The Kitsons had homes in London and a place called Hengrave in Suffolk. Sir Thomas Kitson and his wife Elizabeth also hired another composer named John Wilbye in the 1590s.

His Early Life and Education

In 1594, Edward Johnson earned a special music degree called a Bachelor of Music (Mus. Bac.) from Caius College at Cambridge University. This shows he was a well-trained musician.

Working with Famous Musicians

His name shows up in old records from the early 1600s. In 1600, he helped check the songs in a famous musician named Dowland's Second Book of Songs before it was printed in London. He worked on this with John Wilbye. Edward Johnson was also involved in planning the funeral of his supporter, Sir Thomas Kitson, which happened in Hengrave in 1603. After that, we don't know what happened to him.

What Music Did He Write?

Perhaps Edward Johnson's most famous song is "Eliza Is the Fairest Queen." This song was a tribute to Queen Elizabeth I. Other pieces he wrote include:

• "Come, blessed bird": This is a type of song called a madrigal, written for six singers. It was part of a collection called The Triumphs of Oriana.
• "Jhonsons Medley": This piece can be found in a collection of music called the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.