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

(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