John Jenkins (composer) facts for kids

John Jenkins (born 1592, died 1678) was an English composer. He was born in Maidstone, Kent, and passed away in Kimberley, Norfolk.

About John Jenkins

We don't know much about John Jenkins's early life. His father, Henry Jenkins, was a carpenter who sometimes built musical instruments. John might have been "Jack Jenkins," who worked for Anne Russell, Countess of Warwick in 1603.

The first clear record of Jenkins shows him as a musician. He performed in a special show called a masque (a type of play with music and dancing) in 1634. This show, The Triumph of Peace, was for King Charles I. Jenkins was very skilled at playing the lyra viol, which is a string instrument similar to a cello. King Charles I even said that Jenkins did "wonders" with this instrument.

Life During the English Civil War

In 1642, the English Civil War began. This war forced many people, including Jenkins, to move away from the cities to the countryside. During the 1640s, he worked as a music teacher for two Royalist families. These were the Derham family in West Dereham and the family of Hamon le Strange in Hunstanton. Jenkins was also friends with another composer, William Lawes (1602–1645). Sadly, Lawes died in battle during the siege of Newark.

Around 1640, Jenkins brought back an old musical style called the In Nomine. This was a special type of music for a group of viol instruments. It was based on a very old church tune. He also wrote a famous piece of programme music. This is music that tells a story or describes something. His piece showed the sounds of battle, sadness for those who died, and joy after the siege of Newark in 1646.

After the War

In the 1650s, Jenkins became the main music teacher for Lord Dudley North in Cambridgeshire. Lord North's son, Roger, later wrote about Jenkins's life. During these years, England was ruled by Oliver Cromwell (a time called the Commonwealth). There wasn't much organized music at this time. Jenkins used this chance to write more than 70 suites (collections of dances) for people to play at home.

After the king returned to power in 1660 (this was called the Restoration), Jenkins got a job as a musician for the Royal Court. Even though viol music was less popular with King Charles II, people still respected Jenkins. Roger North wrote that even when Jenkins couldn't work for many years, the court musicians made sure he still got paid.

Jenkins was a very religious and private person. He set the religious poems of George Herbert to music. He was also very hard-working. Roger North said Jenkins wrote dances "by the cart-load." North also described Jenkins as a "happy person" who was "superior in his profession" and "well accepted by all." He lived a good life and "died in peace."

Jenkins is buried in St. Peter's Church in Kimberley, Norfolk. His gravestone has this poem:

Under this Stone Rare Jenkins lie

The Master of the Musick Art

Whom from the Earth the God on High

Called up to Him to bear his part.

Aged eighty six October twenty seven

In anno seventy eight he went to Heaven.

Jenkins's Music Style

John Jenkins was a composer for a very long time. His life spanned from the time of William Byrd to Henry Purcell. This means he saw many big changes in English music.

He is known for making the viol consort fantasia popular. A viol consort is a group of viol instruments. A fantasia is a free-form musical piece. In the 1630s, he was influenced by older English composers like Alfonso Ferrabosco the younger and Orlando Gibbons.

Jenkins wrote many fantasias for groups of 4, 5, and 6 viols. He also wrote many almans, courants, and pavanes. These are all types of dances. He also brought new life to the old In Nomine style.

Jenkins's music was more traditional than some of his friends, like William Lawes. His music is known for its beautiful melodies and skilled writing. He used tonality (the way music uses different keys) and counterpoint (combining different melodies) in very original ways.

See also

In Spanish: John Jenkins para niños