George Kirbye facts for kids

George Kirbye (born around 1565 – died 1634) was an English composer. He lived during the late Tudor period and early Jacobean era. George Kirbye was part of the famous English Madrigal School. He wrote both madrigals and sacred music.

The Life of George Kirbye

Not much is known about George Kirbye's early life. We do know some of the people he worked with. He worked at Rushbrooke Hall near Bury St Edmunds. There, he taught the daughters of Sir Robert Jermyn.

In 1598, George Kirbye married Anne Saxye. After their marriage, they moved to Bury St Edmunds. Around this time, he likely met John Wilbye. Wilbye was a very famous madrigal composer. He lived and worked only a few miles away. Kirbye's music sometimes sounded similar to Wilbye's.

Rushbrooke Hall, where George Kirbye worked as a tutor.

In 1626, Kirbye's wife passed away. After that, he became a churchwarden at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds. He served in this role for several years. He continued to live in Bury St Edmunds until his death in 1634.

George Kirbye's Music

George Kirbye made important contributions to music. He wrote settings for psalms. These were included in East's book, The Whole Book of Psalmes (1592). Psalms are sacred songs or poems.

He also wrote madrigals. Madrigals are a type of vocal music, usually without instruments. They were very popular during his time. Some of his madrigals were in The Triumphs of Oriana (1601). This was a famous collection of madrigals. It was dedicated to Elizabeth I, the Queen of England. Kirbye also published his own set of madrigals in 1597.

One of Kirbye's arrangements is still sung today. He arranged a tune by Christopher Tye for Psalm 84. This tune is now used for the Christmas carol, "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night." He was hired by Thomas East to arrange these tunes.

Kirbye's Musical Style

Kirbye's madrigals were often serious. They were usually written in a minor key. He paid close attention to the words of the songs. His style was similar to Italian composers like Luca Marenzio. However, Kirbye used less specific imagery in his music.

He did not use the light and cheerful style of Thomas Morley. Morley's music was very popular at the time. Instead, Kirbye brought a more serious style into his madrigals. This serious style was common in English music before madrigals became popular.

Kirbye's music is not performed as often as that of Morley, Weelkes, or Wilbye. He also did not write as many pieces as them. Still, some of his madrigals can be found in modern collections. One example is The Oxford Book of English Madrigals.