Hugh Aston facts for kids

Hugh Aston (born around 1485 – died 1558) was an English composer from the early Tudor period. He was known for his new ways of writing music for keyboards and for churches. Aston was also involved in politics, serving as a mayor, a Member of Parliament, and an Alderman.

Life Story

Hugh Aston was born in Leicester, England, around 1485. His father, Robert Aston, was an important local leader. Hugh likely started his musical training as a boy singer, or chorister, at The Newarke College in Leicester. This college was a famous place for music in England at that time.

A talented boy like Hugh would join the choir around age 8. He would sing daily alongside adult professional singers. Hugh probably joined the choir school in 1493. After his voice changed, he might have stayed on as a lay clerk (a non-cleric singer).

In 1502, he went to Oxford University to study music. He studied there for eight years and graduated in 1510, when he was about 25 years old.

Becoming a Musician

On November 27, 1510, Hugh Aston applied for a Bachelor of Music degree at Oxford. For his exam, he had to give a speech about the writings of Boethius, a famous philosopher. He also had to present and perform a mass and an antiphon (types of church music).

The university records show he passed his exam. His five-part Missa Te Deum Laudamus (a mass) and the related antiphon Te Deum Laudamus were likely the pieces he submitted. Copies of these works, made around 1528–1530, are now kept at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Returning to Leicester

After 1510, Hugh Aston might have lived in London and perhaps worked with King Henry VIII's court. In 1517, he was officially made a 'Freeman and Burgess' of Leicester. This meant he had special rights in the town, as his father was also a freeman.

In 1520–1521, he helped the church in Warwick buy and install a new organ. By 1525, Aston was the choir-master at The Newarke College in Leicester. He was so good that Cardinal Wolsey wanted him to lead the music at his new college in Oxford. However, Hugh Aston chose to stay in Leicester because he was promised a very good salary for life. So, John Taverner got the job in Oxford instead.

From 1531, records show Hugh Aston earned £10 a year, which increased to £12 from 1539. His job in Leicester was Keeper of the Organs and Master of the Choristers at The Newarke College. This college was a major royal institution with a strong musical reputation. It even had the right to recruit the best musicians from other places without their permission!

The college had a busy music schedule, with daily sung Masses and special services on feast days. Aston, who was also a singer and organist, received extra payments for things like funerals. He also worked for six other religious houses in the Midlands.

Changes in England

Just 18 months after Aston retired, The Newarke College was closed down in 1548. This was part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when King Henry VIII closed many religious institutions in England. The college church was torn down.

However, Hugh Aston continued to live in what seemed to be the choir-master's official house. He received a pension of £12 a year from the state for his old job. He also got an additional £6 13s. 4d. in pensions from the other six places that were closed. He was also allowed to live in his house for life. After his death, his wife and then his son continued to live there until at least 1595.

Public Service

Before 1530, Hugh Aston was already serving on the Town Council, representing the area where he lived. Later, he became a Borough Alderman. By 1550, his area was even called "the Ward of Mr Hugh Aston" in official records.

He held many important public roles:

• From 1532: Justice of the Peace (a local judge)
• For two years: Coroner (investigated deaths)
• For 16 years: Auditor of Accounts (checked financial records)
• 1541–1542: Mayor of Leicester
• 1555: Member of Parliament for Leicester

He remained an Alderman until he died.

Remembering Hugh Aston

The exact date of Hugh Aston's death is not known, but he was buried on November 17, 1558, at St Margaret's Church, Leicester. This was the local church for his area.

Anniversary Service

On November 15, 2008, a special service was held at St Margaret's Church to mark 450 years since his burial. The service featured two of Aston's surviving church songs and some of his keyboard music.

Hugh Aston Building

Most of the old buildings of The Newarke College were demolished after the Dissolution. Today, the campus of De Montfort University covers almost the entire site.

In March 2015, the university opened a new Heritage Centre. It includes the remaining ruins of the old church and displays about the history of the area. On March 17, 2010, the university opened a new £35 million building for its Faculty of Business and Law. This building, located near where Aston lived, is named the Hugh Aston Building in his honor.

His Music

Four of Hugh Aston's sacred vocal compositions (music for singing in church) are mostly complete:

Masses

• Missa Te Deum (for five voices)
• Missa Videte manus meas (for six voices)

Antiphons

• Ave Maria Ancilla Trinitatus
• Ave Maria divae matris Annae
• Gaude Mater Matris Christi
• O baptista vates Christi (for five voices, reconstructed)
• Te Matrem Dei Laudamus

Devotional Song

• Ave Domina Sancta

Keyboard Music

• Hornepype
• My Lady Carey's Dompe (thought to be by him)
• The Short Measure of My Lady Wynkfyld's Rownde Again (thought to be by him)

Aston's keyboard music, even though only a few examples survive, was very advanced for its time. His Hornepype is often mentioned as an early example of music written specifically for keyboard instruments. Other famous early keyboard pieces, like My Lady Careys Dompe, are also thought to be his.

A lost piece, known as 'Hugh Aston's Grounde', was copied by the famous composer William Byrd.

Recordings

• Music for Compline, Stile Antico, Harmonia Mundi USA HMU 907419. Includes Aston's Gaude, virgo mater Christi.
• Two Tudor Masses for the Cardinal, Christ Church Oxford Cathedral Choir, directed by Stephen Darlington. Metronome UK 1998, MET CD1030. Disc 2 is Hugh Aston's Missa Videte Manus Meas.
• Three Marian Antiphons : Music from the Peterhouse Partbooks, directed by Scott Metcalfe. Blue Heron 2010, B003KWVNXS.