Renowned English composer John Farmer was a of the Renaissance period best known for his Madrigal songs. His musical career though short-lived was a productive one and only lasted for about a decade.
His contribution, especially to the genre of English Madrigal, Consort songs, and English Psalter, is noteworthy. Some of his compositions are masterpieces and his legacy continue to inspire us even today.
Early Life of John Farmer
There are little known facts about John Farmer’s childhood and early life. He was born around 1570 in England, but the exact date of his birth is unknown.
In 1591, John was quite young probably in his early 20s, when he published his first work in London called the “Divers and Sundry Waies of Two Parts in One, to the number of Fortie, uppon One Playn Song”.
The collection consisted of 40 canonic pieces. It is an outstanding example of Contrapuntal music and his compositional abilities even at such a young age.
Farmer dedicated his first publication to his patron Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford.
The volume became a major success and caught the attention of Thomas East, a famous publisher. The duo later collaborated and Famer published a new English Psalter in 1592.
John Farmer’s Career
In 1595, John Farmer got his first job and as an organist & “Master of Boys” at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin.
He also worked simultaneously as a member of the vicar-choral for the same church for additional income but was later removed from the position in 1599.
John Farmer’s Compositions
John Farmer in his short span of musical career has composed many Madrigals and Sacred songs. The “Lord’s Prayer” by Farmer was published by Oxford University Press and is a brilliant example of church songs that he composed during his lifetime.
In 1599, John Farmer moved to London. It was here in London that John published his first volume of English Madrigals, the “First Book of English Madrigals” and dedicated it to his patron the Earl of Oxford.
His Madrigals were critically acclaimed and believed to be a combination of two styles of madrigals; A simpler version of Morley and a more intense style of the Weelkes and Wilbys.
One of his major works was a madrigal that got published in a multi-composer collection of songs called the “Triumphs of Orianna” was edited by Morley and got published in 1601.
Some of his works include:
- The “Fair Phyllis I Saw Sitting All Alone” is one of the four madrigals that got published in 1599. The song beautifully narrates the story of a young shepherdess in search of her beloved wandering alone in the mountains. The score was a huge success and appreciated by many.
- The “Fair Nymphs, I heard One Telling” is another composition taken from the “Triumphs of Orianna” collection.
- “A Little Pretty Bonny Lass” is a madrigal composed by Farmer.
- Among his Sacred choral works, “Humble Suit of a Sinner” is noteworthy.
Nothing much is known about John Farmer after 1601. He simply vanished from the historical records.
Giles Farnaby, a famous Renaissance composer dedicated a pavan in his honour and named it the “Farmer’s Paven” and is included in the book “Fitzwilliam Virginal Book”.
