Robert Jones (c. 1577 – 1617) was an English

lute A lute ( or ) is any plucked string instrument with a neck (music), neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted. More specifically, the term "lu ...

nist and composer, the most prolific of the English

lute song The term lute song is given to a music style from the late 16th century to early 17th century, late Renaissance music, Renaissance to early Baroque music, Baroque, that was predominantly in England and France. Lute songs were generally in stroph ...

composers (along with

Thomas Campion Thomas Campion (sometimes spelled Campian; 12 February 1567 – 1 March 1620) was an English composer, poet, and physician. He was born in London, educated at Cambridge, and studied law in Gray's Inn. He wrote over a hundred lute songs, masque ...

). He received the degree of B.Mus. from Oxford in 1597 (St. Edmund Hall). He ran a school in London. Records show that he had a patent (monopoly) to train children for the Queen's Revels between 1610 and 1615. In 1610, he collaborated with

Philip Rosseter Philip Rosseter (1568 – 5 May 1623) was an English composer and musician, as well as a theatrical manager. His family seems to have been from Somerset or Lincolnshire, he may have been employed with the Countess of Sussex by 1596, and he was ...

to present plays at the Whitefriars theatre. He was recorded as a Gentleman of the

Chapel Royal A chapel royal is an establishment in the British and Canadian royal households serving the spiritual needs of the sovereign and the royal family. Historically, the chapel royal was a body of priests and singers that travelled with the monarc ...

in 1612. He published five volumes of simple and melodious lute songs, and one of madrigals; he also contributed to ''

The Triumphs of Oriana ''The Triumphs of Oriana'' is a book of English madrigals, compiled and published in 1601 by Thomas Morley, which first edition has 25 pieces by 23 composers (Thomas Morley and Ellis Gibbons have two madrigals) for 5 and 6 voices. The first 14 m ...

'' and Leighton's ''Teares''. His 27 madrigals are mostly to texts about birds – birds merry, sweet, shrill, crowing or melancholic.

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

quoted his song, 'Farewell, dear love', in ''Twelfth Night.'' The date and place of Jones's death are not known.

Known publications

* ''The First Booke of Songes and Ayres'', 1600, dedicated to

Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester (19 November 1563 – 13 July 1626), was an English courtier, soldier, and landowner. He was chamberlain to Anne of Denmark. Family background Robert Sidney was the second son of Sir Henry Sidney, was ...

(1563–1626) * ''The Second Booke of Ayres'', 1601, dedicated to Sir Henry Lennard, 12th Baron Dacre (1570–1616) * ''Third book'', 1605, dedicated to

Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, (19 February 1594 – 6 November 1612), was the eldest son and heir apparent of King James VI and I and Anne of Denmark, Queen Anne. His name derives from his grandfathers: Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley; and Fr ...

(died 1612) * The first set of madrigals of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. parts, viols and voices, 1607, dedicated to

Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, (1 June 156324 May 1612) was an English statesman noted for his direction of the government during the Union of the Crowns, as Tudor England gave way to Stuart period, Stuart rule (1603). Lord Salisbury ser ...

* ''Ultimum vale, with a triplicity of musicke'', ..., 1608 * ''A Musicall Dreame, or the Fourth Booke of Ayres'' ..., 1609, dedicated to Sir John Levinthorpe * ''The Muses Gardin for delight, or the Fift booke of Ayres onely for the Lute, the bass Violl, and the Voyce'', 1611, dedicated to

Lady Mary Wroth Lady Mary Wroth (née Sidney; 18 October 1587 – 1651/3) was an English noblewoman and a poet of the English Renaissance. A member of a distinguished literary family, Lady Wroth was among the first female English writers to have achieved an e ...

(1587?–1651?)

External links

Video of "What If I seek for love" by Robert Jones performed by Valeria Mignaco, soprano & Alfonso Marin, lute
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Robert 1570s births 1617 deaths Year of birth uncertain English lutenists 16th-century English composers English male composers 17th-century English composers Gentlemen of the Chapel Royal 17th-century English male musicians Alumni of St Edmund Hall, Oxford English male songwriters