John Blitheman (''Blithman, Blytheman, Blythman'', c. 1525 – 23 May 1591) was an
English composer and
organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational ...
.
Life
The ''
Fitzwilliam Virginal Book,'' which includes the third of his ''Gloria tibi Trinitas'' settings, gives his forename as William. However,
Chapel Royal
The Chapel Royal is an establishment in the Royal Household serving the spiritual needs of the sovereign and the British Royal Family. Historically it was a body of priests and singers that travelled with the monarch. The term is now also appl ...
records from 1558 to 1590 consistently refer to John Blitheman, and there can be little doubt that this was the composer's name.
[Caldwell and Brown, ''New Grove''. However some other references list him as William.]
Nothing is known about his early life. In 1555 he was chaplain at
Christ Church, Oxford, becoming master of the choristers there in 1564. From 1585 until his death he was appointed organist of the
Chapel Royal
The Chapel Royal is an establishment in the Royal Household serving the spiritual needs of the sovereign and the British Royal Family. Historically it was a body of priests and singers that travelled with the monarch. The term is now also appl ...
(succeeding
Thomas Tallis
Thomas Tallis (23 November 1585; also Tallys or Talles) was an English composer of High Renaissance music. His compositions are primarily vocal, and he occupies a primary place in anthologies of English choral music. Tallis is considered one o ...
), where
John Bull
John Bull is a national personification of the United Kingdom in general and England in particular, especially in political cartoons and similar graphic works. He is usually depicted as a stout, middle-aged, country-dwelling, jolly and matter- ...
was both his pupil and successor. He died in London in 1591 and is buried at
St Nicholas Olave
St Nicholas Olave was a church in the City of London, on the west side of Bread Street Hill in Queenhithe Ward. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of London and was never rebuilt. Instead the parish was united with that of St Nicholas Cole Abbe ...
,
Queenhithe
Queenhithe is a small and ancient ward of the City of London, situated by the River Thames and to the south of St. Paul's Cathedral. The Millennium Bridge crosses into the City at Queenhithe.
Queenhithe is also the name of the ancient, but no ...
.
The great majority of Blitheman's extant works is included in ''
The Mulliner Book,'' where he is represented by fifteen pieces. One of his ''
In nomine
In Nomine is a title given to a large number of pieces of English polyphonic, predominantly instrumental music, first composed during the 16th century.
History
This "most conspicuous single form in the early development of English consort musi ...
s'', dating from before 1591, displays the earliest known example of triplet figuration in English keyboard music.
Notes
References
*
John Caldwell and
Alan Brown, "Blitheman
lithman, Blytheman, Blythman John" ''New Grove Music Dictionary of Music and Musicians''.
*
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blitheman, John
1525 births
1591 deaths
Renaissance composers
English classical composers
English classical organists
British male organists
Cathedral organists
16th-century English composers
16th-century English musicians
English male classical composers
People associated with Christ Church, Oxford
Male classical organists