John Merbecke facts for kids

John Marbeck, also known as Merbeck or Merbecke (born around 1510, died around 1585), was an English musician and writer. He created music for church services that became very important for the Anglican Church. His musical style for the early Anglican worship was used for a long time, even until the late 1900s. He is also known for his special music setting of the Mass, called Missa Per arma justitiae.

John Marbeck's Early Life and Work

John Marbeck was probably from a town called Beverley in Yorkshire, England. When he was a boy, he sang in the choir at St George's Chapel in Windsor. Later, around 1541, he became an organist there.

A Close Call and Important Writings

In 1543, something serious happened. Marbeck and four other people were accused of having beliefs that were different from the official church teachings. This was a very dangerous situation back then. He was sentenced to be burned at the stake. However, he was pardoned thanks to Stephen Gardiner, who was the Bishop of Winchester. Gardiner said Marbeck was "but a musitian," meaning he was just a musician.

Marbeck had been working on a special book called a Concordance of the Bible. This book helped people find words and topics in the Bible. It was the first of its kind in English. Sadly, his first version was taken away and destroyed. But he made a new one, and it was published in 1550. He dedicated this important book to King Edward VI.

Music for Church Services

In the same year, 1550, Marbeck published his Booke of Common Praier Noted. This book was very important for church music. It helped make sure everyone sang the church services in a similar way. He set the words of the 1549 Book of Common Prayer to simple, flowing melodies. These melodies were partly based on older church chants. However, this book became less useful when the Prayer Book was changed again in 1552.

Marbeck also wrote several other religious books. Many of his musical works are still kept in libraries today. He likely died around 1585, still working as an organist at Windsor. His son, Roger Marbeck (1536–1605), grew up to be a famous expert in old languages and a doctor.

John Marbeck's Lasting Influence

In the early 1800s, there was a new interest in church music within the Church of England. People started to pay attention to Marbeck's music again. In 1843, a musician named William Dyce published many of Marbeck's settings. These were adapted to fit the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

His Music Spreads Wide

Later in the 1800s, many different versions of Marbeck's music were published. His Communion service music became very popular. Famous musicians like Sir John Stainer and Charles Villiers Stanford made their own arrangements. Choirs and churchgoers all over the Anglican Communion sang Marbeck's Communion setting. This continued until the late 1900s, when newer church services started to be used.

Parts of his music, like the Nicene Creed, have even been updated with modern words. His music has also been used by many other Christian groups. For example, the Catholic Church used his style for their new English Mass after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.

In 1996, all of his Latin church music was recorded by a group called The Cardinall's Musick.

The Merbecke Choir

There is a choir at Southwark Cathedral in London named the Merbecke Choir. It is a choir for young men and women. They named it after him because part of Marbeck's trial in 1543 happened at that very church.