Pelham Humfrey (Humphrey, Humphrys) (1647 in London – 14 July 1674 in Windsor) was an English composer. He was the first of the new generation of English composers at the beginning of the Restoration to rise to prominence.
Pelham Humfrey was born in 1647.[1] By the age of seventeen Humfrey's anthems were evidently in use and he was sent by the King to study in Paris, probably in January 1665 where he was greatly influenced by music at the French Court. On the basis of the music he wrote on his return, he also assimilated the more expressive vocal style of Carissimi. He later succeeded Henry Cooke (his father-in-law) as Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal and also became composer to the Court.
Humfrey died at the age of 27, but along with Matthew Locke exerted a strong influence on his peers even at his young age, including William Turner, Henry Purcell, and John Blow. At his early death he had already produced several works of great poignancy and expressive power including the Verse Anthem O Lord my God.
Samuel Pepys has mentioned about Humfrey's dress sense and general demeanour in his diary. He states, "Little Pelham Humphreys is an absolute monsieur as full of form and confidence and vanity, and disparages everybody's skill but his own. The truth is, every body says he is very able, but to hear how he laughs at all the King's musick here, as Blagrave and others, that they cannot keep time nor tune, nor understand anything; and that Grebus, the Frenchman, the King's master of the musick, how he understands nothing, nor can play on any instrument, and so cannot compose: and that he will give him a lift out of his place; and that he and the King are mighty great! and that he hath already spoke to the King of Grebus would make a man piss."[2]
Dennison, Peter (July 1974). "Pelham Humfrey, 1647-74: A Tercentenary Survey". The Musical Times. 115 (1577): 553–555. doi:10.2307/959732. JSTOR 959732. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
Pepys, Samuel (1667). The Diary of Samuel Pepys ...: For the First Time Fully Transcribed from the Shorthand Manuscript in the Pepysian Library. Great Britain: G. E. Croscup.
pelham, humfrey, humphrey, humphrys, 1647, london, july, 1674, windsor, english, composer, first, generation, english, composers, beginning, restoration, rise, prominence, contents, life, career, references, bibliography, further, reading, external, linkslife,. Pelham Humfrey Humphrey Humphrys 1647 in London 14 July 1674 in Windsor was an English composer He was the first of the new generation of English composers at the beginning of the Restoration to rise to prominence Contents 1 Life and career 2 References 2 1 Bibliography 3 Further reading 4 External linksLife and career editPelham Humfrey was born in 1647 1 By the age of seventeen Humfrey s anthems were evidently in use and he was sent by the King to study in Paris probably in January 1665 where he was greatly influenced by music at the French Court On the basis of the music he wrote on his return he also assimilated the more expressive vocal style of Carissimi He later succeeded Henry Cooke his father in law as Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal and also became composer to the Court Humfrey died at the age of 27 but along with Matthew Locke exerted a strong influence on his peers even at his young age including William Turner Henry Purcell and John Blow At his early death he had already produced several works of great poignancy and expressive power including the Verse Anthem O Lord my God Samuel Pepys has mentioned about Humfrey s dress sense and general demeanour in his diary He states Little Pelham Humphreys is an absolute monsieur as full of form and confidence and vanity and disparages everybody s skill but his own The truth is every body says he is very able but to hear how he laughs at all the King s musick here as Blagrave and others that they cannot keep time nor tune nor understand anything and that Grebus the Frenchman the King s master of the musick how he understands nothing nor can play on any instrument and so cannot compose and that he will give him a lift out of his place and that he and the King are mighty great and that he hath already spoke to the King of Grebus would make a man piss 2 One of Humfrey s best known compositions is his setting of the poem A Hymn to God the Father by John Donne Humfrey died on 14 July 1674 1 References edit a b Dennison 1974 p 553 Pepys 1667 p 184 Bibliography edit Dennison Peter July 1974 Pelham Humfrey 1647 74 A Tercentenary Survey The Musical Times 115 1577 553 555 doi 10 2307 959732 JSTOR 959732 Retrieved 11 July 2022 Pepys Samuel 1667 The Diary of Samuel Pepys For the First Time Fully Transcribed from the Shorthand Manuscript in the Pepysian Library Great Britain G E Croscup Further reading editScholes Percy 1970 Ward John Owen ed The Oxford Companion to Music Oxford University Press Dennison Peter 1986 Pelham Humfrey Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 315244 1 OCLC 13761025 Dennison Peter 1970 The Life and Work of Pelham Humfrey University of Oxford Norman Jacque Lewis 1964 Anthems of Pelham Humfrey Thesis University of Southern California OCLC 25478656 Wood Bruce Humfrey Pelham Grove Music Online ed L Macy accessed April 12 2006 grovemusic com subscription access External links editFree scores by Pelham Humfrey in the Choral Public Domain Library ChoralWiki Humfrey Pelham Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Humfrey Pelham New International Encyclopedia 1905 composers classical music comCultural officesPreceded byHenry Cooke Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal1672 1674 Succeeded byJohn Blow Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pelham Humfrey amp oldid 1207607284, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
