John Redford facts for kids

John Redford (born around 1500 – died October or November 1547) was a very important English musician and writer. He lived during the Tudor period, a long time ago. He was a talented composer (someone who writes music), an organist (someone who plays the organ), and a dramatist (someone who writes plays).

He worked at St Paul's Cathedral in London for many years. Around 1525, he became the organist there. Later, in 1531, he became the choirmaster. This meant he was in charge of the choirboys. He held this important job until he died in 1547. Many of his musical works can be found in a famous old book called the Mulliner Book.

John Redford's Music and Plays

Early Organ Music

Redford is special because he was one of the first people to write down organ music. Before him, many organists would just make up music as they played. But Redford wrote down a lot of his keyboard music. This music was often for church services and was based on old church songs called plainchant. He also wrote a few songs for singers that are still around today.

Directing Choir Performances

As the choirmaster, Redford was also in charge of the choirboys' performances. This included writing and directing plays. One of his most famous plays is called The Play of Wyt and Science. It's a type of play called a morality play, which teaches a lesson. He wrote it sometime between 1530 and 1550. The original copy of the play is missing its first five pages, so we don't know how much of it is lost.

Redford's Poems

Redford also wrote several poems. One long poem he wrote is called Nolo mortem peccatoris. Another famous composer, Thomas Morley, later set this poem to music. Morley also became an organist at St Paul's.

Redford also wrote a poem called The Chorister's Lament. In this poem, the choirboys complain about how harshly they were treated. They talk about being punished often, even when they tried their best.

We have a cursyd master, I tell you all for trew
so cruell as he is was never Turke or Jue.
he is the most unhappiest man that ever ye knewe,
for to poor syllye boyes he wurkyth much woe.
Do we never so well, he can never be content,
but for our good wylles we ever more be shente [punished],
ofttimes our lytle butokes he dooth all to rent,
that we, poore sylye boyes, abyde much woe.
We have many lasshes to lerne this peelde [wretched] song,
that I wyll not lye to you now & then among;
out of our butokes we may plucke the stumpes thus long
that we, poore sylye boyes, abyde much woe.

Redford's Later Life

We know a bit about Redford's life from his will, which is a legal document about what happens to his belongings after he dies. His will was written on October 7, 1547, and officially approved on November 29, 1547. It shows that he lived with his sister, Margaret Coxe. They likely lived in a house near St. Paul's Cathedral, where he worked.