Thomas Weelkes facts for kids

Thomas Weelkes (born around 1576 – died 1623) was a famous English composer and organist. He worked at Winchester College and later at Chichester Cathedral. He is best known for his vocal music, especially his madrigals, anthems, and church services.

Life of Thomas Weelkes

Thomas Weelkes was baptised in a small village church in Elsted, West Sussex, on October 25, 1576. This means he was born sometime in the mid-1570s. His first book of madrigals was published in 1597. He was very young when he wrote these songs.

Around 1598, when he was about 22, Weelkes became the organist at Winchester College. He stayed there for two or three years. He earned money and also received food and a place to live.

While at Winchester, he wrote two more books of madrigals (in 1598 and 1600). In 1602, he earned a music degree from New College, Oxford. He then moved to Chichester to work as the organist and teacher for the choirboys at Chichester Cathedral. He also became a lay clerk at the Cathedral, earning a good salary.

In 1603, Thomas Weelkes married Elizabeth Sandham. She came from a rich local family. They had three children together.

Weelkes published his fourth and last book of madrigals in 1608. On the cover, he called himself a "Gentleman of the Chapel Royal". However, official records do not show him as a permanent member. He might have been a "Gentleman Extraordinary," meaning he filled in when needed.

Thomas Weelkes spent a lot of time in London later in his life. His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1622. Weelkes himself died in London in 1623, likely on November 30. He was buried on December 1, 1623, at St Bride's Fleet Street. He left his money to his three children. There is a memorial stone for him in Chichester Cathedral.

Thomas Weelkes' Music

Thomas Weelkes is most famous for his vocal music. This includes his madrigals and church music. He wrote more Anglican church services than most other composers of his time. Many of his anthems were "verse anthems," which worked well with the smaller choirs at Chichester Cathedral. Some people think his bigger pieces were meant for the Chapel Royal. Many of his church anthems were put into a famous book called The Oxford Book of Tudor Anthems in 1978.

Weelkes wrote only a small amount of instrumental music. This music is not played very often today. His music for consorts (groups of instruments) often sounds serious. This is different from his madrigals, which are often joyful.

Weelkes' Madrigals

Weelkes's madrigals are often compared to those by John Wilbye. Both composers were good at "word painting." This means they used music to show the meaning of the words. Weelkes's madrigals often use many different notes and unusual rhythms.

Weelkes was friends with another madrigal composer named Thomas Morley. When Morley died in 1602, Weelkes wrote a special anthem to remember him. It was called A Remembrance of my Friend Thomas Morley.

Some of Weelkes's madrigals were printed again in popular collections during the 1700s and 1800s.

Images for kids

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  A print of Weelkes' madrigal Robin Hood, Maid Marian and Little John are gone, from 1608.

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  A memorial for Thomas Weelkes in St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, London.

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  Weelkes' memorial stone in Chichester Cathedral.

See also

In Spanish: Thomas Weelkes para niños