(1583-1625)
Introduction: Early Life
Orlando Gibbons, was perhaps the most versatile and multi-talented English Composers of the 17th century. Gibbons was born in December 1583 in Oxford, England to a musical family where his father William Gibbons and his two older brothers Edward and Ellis were all musicians. Orlando was the youngest of the four siblings and followed his brother’s footsteps and started singing at a very early age in the Choir of King’s College from the year 1596 to 1599.
On 1598, Orlando enrolled for the University of Cambridge and earned his Doctorate of Music in 1622. There was no looking back from then and Orlando was appointed as a Gentleman of the Royal Chapel by Kings James I. There he played until 1615 until the death of King James I. He was promoted as the Senior Organist by Thomas Tomkins in 1623. Gibbons also played as a keyboard player for King Charles I and as an organist in Westminster Abbey.
In 1606, Gibbon got married to Elizabeth Patten and together they had seven children.
The Musical Journey of Gibbons
Gibbons began composing at the very early age of 16 and by the time he was 23, he published his first ever keyboard music in Parthenia, one of the most respected Publications of his time.
One of the most notable contributions of Gibbons was his compositions for the Anglican society and Church music where he composed more than 30 anthems, over 40 keyboards, and 30 viol compositions. Some of his notable work in anthem has been “O Clap Your Hands” and “This is the record of John”, which were very popular at that time. The “Hosanna to the son of David” and “Lift up your heads” were some other notable anthems that he wrote at his time.
He wrote 14 madrigals (a very popular form of music of the Renaissance period) and consort songs. Some of his notable work in Madrigals is listed below:
- The silver swan.
- O that the learned poets of our time.
- I weigh not Fortunes frown nor smile.
- I tremble not at noise of war.
- I see ambition never please de.
- I Feign not Friendship where I hate.
- How art thou thrald, O poor despised creature.
- Farewell all joyes.
Some of his keyboard works for Parthenia are listed below.
- Galiardo
- Fantazia of Four Parts
- The Lord Salisbury his Pavin
- Preludium
Orlando Gibbons’s lifetime was devoted to music. His devotion and contribution to English Music was quite notable and appreciated by people of his era. He was often considered as the most promising and talented musicians both by his peers and people of his generation and no surprise that he was given the name “the best finger of that age”. During the reign of King Charles I, he collaborated with many notable musicians of his time like Thomas Lupo, John Coprario and Alfonso Ferrabosco II and together they produced pioneering consort music.
His choral music and anthems which were exclusively designed for full choir are masterpieces and will continue to be an inspiration for the musicians of our time.
The “Short Service” and the “Second Service” are the two major evening prayers composed by Orlando and are still appreciated by many.
Famous Canadian pianist Glenn Gould in an interview has compared Gibbons with Beethoven and Webern and has expressed how much he has been influenced by the composer right from his teen years.
Gibbons’s music not only had the gift of melody, and was simplistic, but it was elaborate and also had the technical complexities of a great composition. His sacred music was considered divine and touched the hearts of many.
Gibbons died on June 5, 1625, at the age of 41 in Canterbury due to apoplexy. His death was sudden and it was a shock for everybody. There was quite a mystery about his death. Some believed that he died due to the plague that took quite a toll at that time in England. The two physicians who did the post-mortem on his body stated that he had lost his speech, sight, and hearing and went into a shock and became paralyzed. There is a monument in honour of him in Canterbury Cathedral.
Gibbons devoted his life into music and will always be the finest of musicians in his generation.
