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Thomas Morley

Title page of Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke
Title page of Morley’s
Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke
(1597)

Thomas Morley (1557 or 1558 – early October 1602) was an English composer, theorist, singer and organist of the Renaissance. He was one of the foremost members of the English Madrigal School.

Morley was born in Norwich, the son of a brewer. Most likely he was a singer in the local cathedral from his boyhood, and he became master of choristers there in 1583.  However, it is assumed that Morley moved from Norwich Cathedral sometime before 1574 to be a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral.  He was working as a singer in London in the 1570s and appears to have studied with William Byrd at that time who was his mentor, who also taught contemporary Peter Philips.

Living in London at the same time as Shakespeare, Morley was the most famous composer of secular music in Elizabethan England. He and Robert Johnson are the composers of the only surviving contemporary settings of verse by Shakespeare.

Morley was active in church music as a singer, composer and organist at St Paul’s Cathedral. He was also involved in music publishing. From 1598 up to his death he held a printing patent in partnership with professional music printers such as Thomas East.